Intellectually Curious

Why AI Is Obsessed With Em Dashes

Mike Breault

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0:00 | 4:29

We pull back the curtain on the AI obsession with Em dashes, exploring how prestige bias in training data and safety constraints shape model output. Learn why the next-word predictor treats a dash as a cheap, universal connector—costing no keystroke friction—versus a human’s labor, and what that reveals about how these models think. A practical deep dive for writers, developers, and curious readers into the future of AI-generated prose.


Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information.

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