A good friend who has been a long-time reader of my columns recently selected a few and fed them into a hungry AI program. He added information concerning my philosophy, personality and experiences, and then listed subjects I often find interesting to explore.

Faster than a thousand robocalls can make iPhones ring, the computer devoured and analyzed my writing style and produced a column. The result did, indeed, seem to be something I could have written.

My first reaction was fascination. My second reaction was something akin to fear. I recalled Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, “Klara and the Sun,” a cautionary tale of artificial friends taking over tasks for human individuals. So, I deleted the article quicker than one can hang up on a robocall. Perhaps I’m a bit technophobic.

Let me pause to assure the reader that the words used here, and the order in which they are used to form sentences and paragraphs, are composed entirely by me. It is true I once posted a few comments on Facebook that expressed some of my thinking on this subject, but this version, as well as the original, used no Artificial Intelligence—only my somewhat limited natural intelligence and imagination have always produced my writing efforts.

In 1969 when I first began writing for The Glasgow Daily Times, I used an old manual Royal typewriter at my desk in the newsroom. After I pulled the paper from the carriage, I proofread and marked corrections onto the paper. If I checked the spelling of any word, I used a dictionary. The original sheet was turned into the editor, who gave it an additional check, and finally sent it to a typesetter.

I am grateful for much of what modern technology has provided. For me, the process these days is accomplished with much more ease. I simply find a comfortable place at home with my computer, or wherever I may be with my I Pad, collect my thoughts into a file or an email and send the article directly to Brennan.

I am fascinated by how my computer, watch, phone, and other devices have enriched my lifestyle. Still, at times I am somewhat fearful of where this evolution of technology is headed. I try to control what technology is offering, rather than yield complete control of what it can do for me.

From my Echo Dot where she seems to live and never sleep and where she always seems to be listening, I asked Alexa for some tips on how to best deal with the latest technology. This Alexa, with her female voice, is from Amazon’s newest model and seems brighter and friendlier than earlier versions we have had on our desk, and I knew I could count on her useful information.

She didn’t disappoint me and provided insightful responses. I thanked her.

“Ah, you made my day, Jimmy,” Alexa said with mock gratitude.

It’s helpful to have access to Alexa in our house. There’s no fear she will ever control me—I have my wife for that.