AI: About the 'bots

AI has become such a "thing" these days that I decided to mention my use of it. It's real important to me that my work is my work, but I found that the 'bots can be helpful assistants. I go into a little more detail about that below:

Here's what I'd like you to know:

I use AI in a couple of ways around here, and I'd rather just tell you than leave you wondering.

In the writing: I use AI as a kind of digital research assistant, helping me organize my thoughts, find words, and stay focused on the goal of encouraging you to grow in character and confidence through God's Word. I weigh every word myself (and rewrite them, most of the time). What you're reading is fully human, with a bit of assistance from the 'bots.
In the art: Most of the illustrations you'll see around Buried Treasure are AI-assisted. Here's the thing: My mom was an artist. I used to sit with her while she painted. Truth is, I always wanted to be an artist, too, but that particular gift never quite landed in my hands. When I discovered I could direct AI to create the images I was picturing, it became a real hobby, one I've happily folded into my writing. Every piece is mine in the ways that matter, the vision, the choices, the endless (and I mean endless!) back-and-forth until it looks right. It's mine, just made with a different kind of brush than I was given in my genes.