There are too many unknowns associated with AI-generative technologies. But we all need to be willing to take a stance one way or the other.

The following document details what AI technology I use in my work as a writer and story coach (and editor). Be advised that I am not anti-AI, but there are ethical concerns associated with AI-generation. This document details where I draw the line.

Difference between AI-generated and AI-assisted

I define AI-generated stories as those stories created by an AI program from a prompt without human intervention. If you were using AI tools to spark your imagination but your stories are still your own words, then you likely have an AI-assisted story or a human-generated story.

No AI in Writing or Rewriting

My own work is human generated. This includes my blog posts. I feel that writing (and rewriting) is the most creative part of the process and hence requires human input. (It's also the part of the process I enjoy the most.)

Because of the copyright concerns associated with AI-generative technologies, I have elected to not work with clients who use AI to write their stories for them. However, I will still work with AI-assisted stories, recognizing that some writers use AI to assist in their research or outlining. If the words are still the words of the writer (in their voice), then I'm happy to take a look.

No AI in Editing

I won't use AI to rewrite (or analyze) my own works, so why would I do that to a client?

When you hire me, you are hiring the human, not a computer program.

I do not use ChatGPT or any other AI tool to generate reports or to analyze client manuscripts. When working on a manuscript, it is just me with my red pen in the hand, and eventually Microsoft Word with its built-in Track Changes feature.

I use ProWritingAid (a program similar to Grammarly) and the built-in spellchecker with MS Office. However, neither of these tools uses ChatGPT or anything like it for the base functionality. (And I have MS Copilot turned off on my computer, because I despise its intrusive nature.)

Please feel assured that your manuscripts won't intentionally be added to the AI training pool by me. However, due to the terms of service for Google and Microsoft (and other software providers out there), it is getting harder and harder to ensure that files that just happen to pass through their systems aren't being scraped for AI training. I do what I can to ensure that the data on my computer isn't included in this mess, but I can no longer 100% guarantee it.

My Use of AI

While I won't use AI to write or edit, I would be lying if I said that I didn't use AI technologies at all.

As I mentioned above, I use ProWritingAid and MS Office. Both of these systems have AI tools embedded that do not use the prompt concept seen in ChatGPT. Both systems will suggest editorial changes, using an AI-powered tool to generate those suggestions. (It doesn't mean that I have to take on board those suggestions. Sometimes, the suggestions look like those from a drunken writer.)

I will also use dictation software that automatically punctuates my sentences while I dictate my writing into my word-processing system. Sure, it's an editing mess afterwards, but when the hands rebel and I struggle to type, the writing has to happen somehow. However, it is still my words… just the computer's odd sense of punctuation.

I have also taken to using the AI voices within the Read Aloud feature in MS Word. Those voices are nice to listen to, and hearing your words read back to you helps with the editorial process in a significant way.

PowerPoint's slide designer is also AI powered, and sometimes those suggested layouts are better than what I originally came up with.

Google's search engine is AI powered, as is the search engine within Facebook and Instagram.

I know that's not what people see as AI, but that is the reality.

As for the prompt-type AI, I'm investigating options of using AI to assist with writing ALT text for images and promo copy.

The Landscape is in Flux

The landscape surrounding AI is in a constant state of flux at the moment. Cases regarding copyright are still waiting to be heard, and the technology itself is advancing faster than we can keep up.

There is a possibility that I might adopt AI to take on mundane business administration tasks in the future (no guarantees either way). Regardless of how I elect to use AI in the future, I will keep my followers updated.

If you are interested in reading my thoughts about AI (as the technology progresses and the landscape changes), check out my blog posts on the topic.