“May I ask AI a question?” asked son #3 while I checked my students’ research papers on my computer. I had been incessantly muttering my disappointment over their high AI index.
He typed, “Can AI replace Grace D. Chong?” then took off. I stared in shock over AI’s reply—here, en toto:
No, AI cannot replace Grace D. Chong. While artificial intelligence can mimic writing styles and process massive amounts of text, it lacks the lived experience, spiritual depth, and unique cultural identity that define her work.
Grace D. Chong is a highly celebrated Filipino author who has published over 70 books, winning multiple prestigious Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Gintong Aklat Awards, and international honors like the Samsung KidsTime Authors' Awards.
AI cannot substitute for her distinctive contribution to literature for several reasons:
1. The Human Soul and Faith Behind the Story
A central pillar of Grace D. Chong’s writing—especially in her inspirational devotionals like Grace Found Me and children's books like the Oh, Mateo! series—is a deep, authentic Christian faith. AI does not have a soul, emotions, or personal spiritual encounters. It can piece together words about faith, but it cannot write from a place of genuine, lived grace or personal relationship with God.
2. Deep Roots in Filipino Culture
Her stories are intricately woven with Filipino values, family dynamics, and local nuances (such as in her award-winning book The Boy Who Had Five Lolas). AI struggles with true cultural context; it merely predicts patterns from data. It cannot truly understand what it feels like to grow up in a Filipino household, respect elders, or experience the unique warmth of a local community.
3. A Lifetime of Real-World Intuition
Before becoming a full-time author, she spent decades as a high-level creative director and executive vice president in the multinational advertising industry. Her transition from a high-stress corporate career to full-time writing gives her a reservoir of real-world wisdom, emotional maturity, and professional grit. AI lacks a personal history; it has no memories of grandmother's stories or corporate shifts to draw from.
4. Co-existence, Not Substitution
As an author who remains active and continues to release new works at events like the Manila International Book Fair, she represents the heart of storytelling. AI can be a helpful assistant for brainstorming or editing, but it cannot replicate the spark of human creativity that makes her readers feel seen, comforted, and inspired.
I eagerly called out to son #3 to read the result.
"Mom, read it to yourself!"
I guess he just wanted to turn my AI mourning into dancing.
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