Day 1/30: Gatekeeping, and the “AI Garbage” Debate
Why the Gatekeepers Are Panicking and How to Actually Create Something That Hits
Today was one of those quiet moments that made everything click.
I was scrolling Substack and saw a well-known creator talking about how much they love it here said they’re new to the platform but already appreciating the vibe. And one line really stood out:
“I haven’t come across a single piece of AI garbage.”
That phrase stuck with me. Not because I disagreed, but because it felt loaded. It wasn’t just about quality. It was about drawing a line. A quiet bit of gatekeeping.
I let that sit for a bit.
Later, I’m on YouTube, watching another creator no names, but if you know, you know.
His whole channel is stitched from trending Clips, Commentary and Headlines. Reacting to internet news he didn’t break and footage he didn’t film.
And now? He’s calling other people “low-content” creators.
Come on. That’s the moment it clicked.
People aren’t mad about content quality. They’re mad they can’t control who gets to create anymore.
This Was Always a Remix Game
Let’s stop pretending this is new.
Long before AI, people were already copying the greats.
Hell, that’s how most of us learned.
I’ve taken writing courses and paid real money, and most of what I was taught was stuff I’d already seen recycled for years.
I’ve watched business models come and go:
Selling SMS to local businesses
Then selling videos
Then automation tools
Now AI agencies
It’s all the same energy: find a tool that works, wrap it in a service, sell it to a hungry market.
Which brings me back to what that old-school copywriter said (maybe Eugene Schwartz, maybe Halbert):
“Don’t create demand. Find a hungry market.”
That’s been the game. Always. And if AI helps someone feed that market faster or cheaper or in a style that resonates?
Then it’s working.
You don’t have to like it.
But calling it “garbage” just shows you’re scared your spot isn’t safe anymore.
There’s Nothing New And That’s Not a Bad Thing
AI isn’t new either, this tech has been around since the 1950s.
Before blockchain.
Before mobile apps.
Just mostly hidden in labs, papers, and patents no one could explain to their mom.
Now it’s in your browser. Now it’s in your pocket.
So yeah people are using it to:
Write
Animate
Voice
Edit
Build faceless brands
And you know what?
It still takes time. Still takes curation. Still takes taste. AI doesn’t replace creative work. It reshapes it.
The Real Reason They’re Shook
We now have people:
Building brands without showing their face
Automating content while working night shifts
Making real money remixing what “experts” call lazy
And the old guard?
They’re still riding on fumes from when they went viral in 2015.
So what do they do?
They say:
“This is garbage.”
“This doesn’t take skill.”
“Back in my day…”
Meanwhile, they’re selling a recycled course for $997 built off a framework they learned from someone else.
It’s the pot calling the kettle “low-content.”
Final Word: You Don’t Need Permission to Create
Look I'm not against creators. I'm not against selling.
I sell, I teach, I believe in making stuff people value.
But I’m tired of the performance.
Tired of people acting like they invented originality when they were just early adopters of old ideas.
The truth is:
Everyone’s a creator now.
The tools are out. The audience decides.
And the gate is wide open.
If someone calls what you’re doing garbage ?
Cool. Let them.
Garbage sells if it’s seasoned right.
Digital Alchemy Action: Turn a Remix Into a Masterpiece
If you want to build with AI and not just consume here’s how to reclaim your voice and make something meaningful:
1. Find a Recycled Idea You Actually Respect
It can be:
A quote you’ve heard a hundred times
A viral thread you didn’t agree with
A business tip from your mentor
A common problem in your niche
The idea doesn’t need to be original. Your angle does.
2. Talk It Out with AI
Use ChatGPT, Claude, or whatever tool you prefer.
Start a convo like this:
“I’ve been thinking about this common advice: [insert idea]. I don’t fully agree with it. Here’s why…”
Let the AI ask questions.
Let it help shape your argument.
You’re not outsourcing thinking you’re refining it through collaboration.
3. Build the Format
Now ask: How do you want to express this?
A written post on Substack ?
A short video with subtitles?
A carousel for IG or LinkedIn?
A podcast segment?
A narrated video using ElevenLabs or Descript?
Ask the AI to help structure it, step by step.
4. Add You. Always Add You.
Inject:
A story
A specific example
A contradiction that bugs you
A voice that sounds like how you actually talk
Even if the idea isn’t new, your energy will be.
5. Hit Publish Before You Overthink It
This part matters more than anything.
Done is greater than Perfect.
Said is greater than Stored.
Published is greater than Pondered.
Let it go and see what happens.
That’s how we do it at Digital Alchemy Lab.
We don’t complain about the system. We use the tools.
We remix the old into something that might actually move people to take action.
Let the others argue about “garbage.” !!
Final Word
Let them keep shouting about “AI garbage.” The truth is simpler: the tools are in everyone’s hands now, and the only filter that still matters is the audience.
If what you make resonates, it wins no matter how it was made or who tries to police it.
Your Move Right Now
Finish and publish one piece of work this week article, video, design, beat, sketch, whatever. Tool of choice is yours.
Drop a link (or a one-line summary) in the comments. Tell us what you tried, what surprised you, and what you’d tweak next time.
Feeling bold? Join the 30-Day Challenge below: ship something anything daily. No permission slips, no gatekeepers, just momentum.
Creators create. Critics critique. Pick your side and press “publish.”