AI: Coworker or Competition for Authors?

By: Brandy Perry

Authors are navigating the use of AI when writing their stories with underlying fear that AI will replace human work.

Hunter Cantrell, Ph.D. candidate at Texas Tech University specializing in data science with a M.A. in digital media studies, and B.S. in radio, television, and film, says the type of AI discussed in this context is called a Large Language Model. Cantrell confirms that current language models are smart enough to recognize the patterns of writing and storytelling at a basic level.

Anna Thornell, a master’s student in creative writing at Texas Tech University, explains AI is taking something from existing work whenever it’s used. Those who use AI to help with their writing risk stealing from someone else.

This was the case for Zoe Kleinman, technology editor for BBC.

She received a joke gift from a friend of hers; a “bestseller” allegedly written by Kleinman. The AI-generated book was able to loosely copy her style of writing; however, it invented pets she didn’t have, rambled, and used metaphors in places where it didn’t make sense. In her article about the experience, Kleinman admits it sounded enough like her to fool a stranger into believing it’s real.

While Kleinman’s AI novel was a personalized gift made for her by a friend, there have been instances of AI use in published best sellers. Rie Kudan, winner of the Akutagawa Prize in the emerging authors category, admitted that her novel based in a futuristic AI-ran Tokyo is 5% written by AI. Some argue this was a stylistic choice due to the nature of the story.

In spite of this, there is little fear from writers that AI will be replacing them anytime soon, even at the speed it’s learning this formulaic writing.

“For those that have been trained in storytelling, that have read the greats like Shakespeare and Aristotle, they’re not quite convinced,” Cantrell stated.

The place of AI in the creative writing process is still being explored.

Studies have shown AI can boost creativity in those who aren’t naturally creative but it has no effect on those who already have high levels of creativity. Researchers found repeating themes in the works of those who used AI to complete their tasks in this study, making subjects’ work seem less original.

In the classroom, Thornell uses AI generated stories to teach entry-level students to edit works and explore how to use AI as a writing tool, not a replacement. She doesn’t encourage the use of AI and tells her aspiring authors that anything coming from their own imagination is more valuable than what AI can create.

“Nothing we’re writing is new, it’s kind of been said in other ways, but humans draw from their own experiences and there’s no way AI can draw from the human experience. I feel like it really limits your work in that way,” Thornell explains.

Cantrell doesn’t believe that AI has a place in the creative process. In his experience as a professional writer, academic, and a professor, the best ideas come from carving time out of the day to let your mind wander and see what you come up with.