In response to the IWSG question this month, no, I won’t be using AI to research, plan, or outline or anything else with my writing.
For anyone coming at me to say how that makes me a luddite and so on, well, my family uses it. I guess I won’t be alone during this predicted apocalypse. The use of AI in writing is an assault on the human creative spirit. Of course, the big corporates call piracy and daylight robbery the hope for mankind. Endstage capitalism ftw. I’m glad there are some class action suits in progress (if you’re an author whose work has been stolen, check this out), and though I’m not holding my breath given the situation at the US Supreme Court, I sure hope everyone who has robbed and stolen to make AI, everyone who uses this product of robbery, and everyone who recommends the use of AI in writing have the day kind of day (and life) they deserve.
I’ve gone quiet on the blog, and on social media, because frankly, all of it feels like a dead party way past 2 a.m. when the stragglers are listening to songs unlikely to stand the test of time. Or taste, for that matter.
Real life, with all its challenges, brings much to be grateful for. And if all writing does is enrich billionaires raping the planet, I’d rather not share it so freely anymore.
I miss my friends, fellow bloggers, and kindred souls, but I’m still waiting for a platform that’s not going to sell us and our attention as products in a marketplace.
What about you, dear writer? What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, story bible, or creating outlines\beats?
This post is part of an event held each first Wednesday of the month: Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Founded by the Ninja Cap’n Alex J. Cavanaugh, the purpose of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share their fears and insecurities without being judged.
The awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight! Please go and visit them if you like.
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“The use of AI in writing is an assault on the human creative spirit.” – THIS. AI-generated writing and other art have no soul–and what’s the point of reading/consuming art that has no soul?
I needed a change. That’s why I jumped into Substack, and I’m so glad I did. I write more and I exchange writing conversations more frequently. I lost some of my blog friends, but I’ve picked up a lot more writing friends, so that’s good.
As to AI. I don’t want to use it for my writing, but I do use it for my SEOs.
I miss my blogging friends too and feel what you’re saying. Goodness, I took 5 years off the blogosphere are am only here once a month as it is. But I wouldn’t trade it. I think it’s still important to have a landing space for longform communication.
AI should NOT be used in writing. Personally, I don’t even like to use it in pictures but lately I’ve been using AI pics to make a point about being charged for something you never use. Data centers are being given breaks on electricity while citizens are being charged to increase electricity production for AI data centers.
I use AI for some research, Damyanti. I could ask Google for information on how far an average horse with a rider can walk in a day, and I’ll get 15 websites to browse. Or I can ask Chat and get the answer: about 20 miles. I would never use AI to write (which it can’t do, in my opinion), but I do find it saves me time when searching for basic information. I used it today to figure out how to countersink a hole in a board for a bolt (not writing-related).
That said, I’m also alarmed about AI stealing our work, and I joined in the class action suit. These are troubling times.
Going quiet and missing your online friends sounds like self-punishment.
“Let’s strive to be better in September!” – Charmaine J. Forde #quote
My new novelette came out on the ninth. Today is my #bookiversary for Fractions of Existence (urban fantasy).
My condiments post is on the A to Z site. Hope you’re well!
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
I can’t figure out how to navigate to any newer posts, if you have them. Sorry.
The first Friday in October is World Smile Day, a day dedicated to spreading smiles and performing acts of kindness. 😊
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
Artificial Intelligence sounds like a catchy name right up until you learn how it is generally built. developers train a machine learning model by feeding it massive amounts of data, which it uses to identify patterns and learn how to complete a specific task. And they tell the AI is wrong when they see a wrong answer. The operative word being ‘when’. There really is no quality control process that validates the answers. So one often does not find out the wrong ‘when’ until it appears at a critical or awkward moment. Likewise there is no quality control on how or what pool of data it was ‘trained on’.
So far I see no reason to experiment with AI. I was away from Word Press for an extended period. When I came back I skipped right past the AI. A month or so back someone reposted one of my posts except they felt compelled to run it through AI. Needless to say it twisted the content of my post. I reminded the re-blogger that my text was copyright too and that permission to re-blog would be withdrawn if the AI continued. Until there is an independent certification agency for AI it will be worthless. And dangerous. And that would very much include autonomous driving systems. Trusting AI is like expecting adult behavior from a two year old child.
It is easy for me not to use AI in writing but I also need to think about the AI images which take from other artists foundations. I have tried this and come up with some bizarre but also fascinating images to illustrate some key points when I have given talks. Thank goodness though I have many of my own photos to use.
“Bizarre” is definitely a good word for some of the AI images I’ve come across. Although it’s becoming harder and harder to tell the real images from the AI-generated ones, I always seem to find something a little off in the latter.
Yes, I agree with that and am sure it will improve. I noticed a young person just using the AI on a google search and wondered about that. I just said check another source too. But this could become a problem if manipulated.
Totally understand your frustration! 😞 It’s disheartening when your hard work gets scraped without consent. Hoping you find a good way to protect your content soon!
Thank you so much! I’m slowly losing hope, but fingers crossed that the class action suits have an impact.
I’m with you 10000% Damyanti 😘
Thank you, Debby! It’s unfortunate that so many of us are in the same boat.
No. Next question?
I agree entirely!
Thanks for sharing!
I like to use grammarly for catching all the commas I so often miss!
In that way, AI does have its benefits. I just hope that the piracy and daylight robbery get taken out of the equation, so AI can be used for the simple, time-consuming tasks which don’t impact our livelihoods or violate our work.
No, what’s the point? I’ll stand or fall by my own efforts. And I’ve had enough of “tech” taking over our lives. It’s supposed to free our creativity, but we spend ever more time servicing its needs.
So well-said!
I agree 1000%.
Thanks for sharing, Kim!
No as that would not be my expression at all. AI will be a curse in future because you will not be able to trust anything you read.
Even now, I’ve adopted the habit of constantly fact-checking and verifying sources, because I can never be sure if an article or piece of information is genuine or AI-generated.
I know. There is very little on FB now that is supposed to deal with news topics that isn’t AI generated as click bait. Some of that click bait is virus infected too.
Fellow AI luddite here, Damyanti.
Glad to hear it, Mitch!
Absolute no to using what I call ‘AS’ (there is no intelligence present) for anything more than spellchecking, making boring lists from a chunk of of text, or as in my post
https://liebjabberings.wordpress.com/2025/02/26/a-legitimate-ai-use-for-fiction-writers/
which shows how to use the AMAZON-provided review summary they are putting on our book pages, with the caveat that it gets many things wrong.
Nothing a human can do with actual intelligence or creativity.
But I’m glad it’s the big boys doing the class-action suits – I don’t have the kind of money it would take.
Type ‘-ai’ on your search lines, and at least you won’t get the annoying summary at the beginning of your sear results pages.
If you EVER use it for anything, check every WORD, LINK, CITATION manually – it lies, invents, and misattributes apparently by design.
Thank you for sharing, Alicia! That’s the important thing — using AI for the time-consuming tasks which can be done without encroaching on creativity or engaging in plagiarism.
No! Don’t trust it. Plus it seems like cheating.
In my eyes, it absolutely is.
Well-said, Damyanti.
Thank you, Yvonne!
I find it reassuring that AI-companies may very well be held liable for giving out “SLOPPY” advice — such as an AI bot that encourages a child to commit suicide. I also feel that persons who employ AI should still be held accountable (whether or not their SLOPPY writing is created by electricity or whatever).
It would be completely unacceptable if they weren’t held liable, especially with the amount of damage that has already been inflicted. Fingers crossed that the class action suits have the intended effect, and some actual change is enacted.
AI takes what it wants when it wants it. So much for protection by copyright.
https://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/
Agreed, the amount that AI is allowed to get away with is ridiculous.
Hi Damyanti – I feel for anyone who writes today … just keeping an idea of what is going on must be so challenging and knowing what to do when things go wrong – so thanks for the link. AI is a pain, yet there are things that it’s great at … just not writing or sending us off to look at things that are patently wrong … I am glad I’m of an age, when I can work out what’s what: mostly! Good luck to one and all … and yes you’ll have us to support you as and when – cheers Hilary
I’m glad you found it helpful, Hilary. AI does have its advantages, I agree, but it’s a pity that the cons so outweigh the pros. I hope there comes a time, preferably in the near future, when the blatant theft and unethicality of AI is recognised for what it is and addressed by those who chose to unleash it on the creative industry for their own gain. On a more positive note, thank you for continuing to support the blog! I always appreciate your comments.
There is still hope that the courts will call it what it is – plagiarism. Yes, some of us are tired of our books being used to train AI.
Still hanging out here anytime you need me, Damy!
Thank you, Alex! I’m so, so grateful. And you’re absolutely right — it’s blatant plagiarism and should be labelled as such.
I do not use AI for any aspect of writing and never will. Not even for research; so what if it’s fast if you have to check whether it makes things up?
Agreed, I don’t see the point in doing double the amount of work and relying on a software which has been proven to falsify references and provide misleading information.
My answer to your question is: Not only no but HELL NO!! Have you checked out Substack? Lots of writers and visual artists there.
Yes, the creativity and talent are incredible to see!
Nice to see you back in the Blogosphere, Damyanti! 🙂 I understand your objections about AI, and wouldn’t use it for writing, but have sampled it for research. It can be helpful, but from my experience, it isn’t always accurate. As for social media, it does sometimes feel “like a dead party way past 2 a.m”, but I’m not quite ready to give it up, yet.
Thank you, Debbie! It’s good to be back, I’ve missed the blogging community. I know what you mean, it took me a while before I could fully convince myself to give up social media, realizing that it was probably doing me more harm than good. But of course, that was entirely a personal decision. It definitely has its benefits and I do miss the connections and conversations it allowed me to have.
I agree, Damyanti! I question those who have not studied the serious ramifications of AI. I’ve read hundreds of articles chronicling the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI. The unintended consequences are like a medicine that cures 7 out of 10, but use kills three. For example, how does someone verify the accuracy of the AI output if they have neither source references nor research skills? So many articles report that AI stole intellectual property, encouraged suicide, and destroyed reputations through inaccurate output. I’ll skip the AI cure and instead focus on producing verifiable results while enjoying the journey.
My sentiments exactly, Grant!
Agreed, AI seems almost like a drug. It’s presented as a miracle cure or the be-all end-all to technological development, but the consequences are devastating. And yet, the rules and regulations surrounding AI continue to fall short. It continues being touted as overwhelmingly beneficial and the misuse of AI becomes more and more common. It’s a scary reality.
I have never and will never use AI to help me write. To me, it’s the lazy person’s way of calling themselves a writer. Genuine writers are ones who understand the importance of words. They are the ones who will agonize over the right word choices and the ones who put effort and thought into creating new ways to express a feeling or describe a scene. Too many people are buying into the influencers myth of they write a book a month and are earning 10,000 dollars a month or more selling their books on Amazon. If writing was easy, then real authors wouldn’t be doing it. To us it’s a labour of love. I support you in not using AI.
Absolutely! It’s disappointing and a little heartbreaking to see how much AI is changing the practice of writing and our appreciation for books and storytelling as a whole. You said it perfectly — writing is a labour of love, and I have no interest in doing it purely for the sake of it.