The problem is that the problem refuses To respond to itself

Poetry | Sina Queyras | Issue 47

MagAi, or Ai,Ai,Ai,Ai

Not one of these words was written by Ai. 
In fact, might this be the last Ai free text?

Ask google, ask—well, what about don’t? 
Or no? I have said no Ai a thousand times, 

An eternity has passed, and in every composition 
On every device I choose to reject Ai. I say no, 

I toggle no, I mean no. Why must I always choose no? 
I said no Ai. Why? Because I choose no Ai. 

I choose no. Choose again? No Ai. Still no. 
What is it called when we are repeatedly offered 

A choice but the choice we choose is never chosen? 
Never truly selected, not until we choose 

The choice that is the app’s desire? The illusion 
Of choice is a hallmark of technological democracy. 

A choice continues, generously, to be offered you, 
You are a free agent, you have a choice, you might 

Even think of this as a cherished choice, it has 
Been given to you this choice to choose, feel free

To choose repeatedly, I mean, again and again, until 
You accidently, inevitably, choose the right choice,


The one you always knew you wanted. 

2.

The problem isn’t MAGA, the problem 
Is a lack of inability to articulate a lack of choice,

The problem is that the problem refuses 
To respond to itself, a thought like a steamroller,

Like, JD and Usha off to Greenland despite 
Not being invited, despite being clearly 

Uninvited. With a strong disincentive to visit
And the state doubling down on the statement 

Insisting a statement is an invitation as in, 
Inevitably you will choose what we want 

From you, it is all the wrong kind of business
As usual. Meanwhile the poets insist poetry 

Makes nothing happen. We too are doubling 
Down on double-speak while posting screenshots

Of the number of our very own texts stolen 
To train Ai. What does poetry train Ai to do? 

If I am a poet and insist poetry makes nothing 
Happen and makes nothing happen happily

Am I happily ensconced in the making of an I 
But not Ai? Or, you might say, yes, Ai 

Has pirated my books but what are I
Going to do about it?

Sina Queyras is a writer, editor and curator based in Montreal. They are the author most recently of Rooms: Women, Writing, Woolf and My Ariel. They are busy untangling themselves from social media and building a nest at sinaqueyras.com.

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