Is AI-Written Fiction a Threat, or a New Tool?

When Technology Enters the World of Imagination

Imagine that while reading a novel you've become engrossed in and grow fond of the characters, only to learn later that much of the work was created by artificial intelligence. Would this affect your thoughts on the novel's characters? Would you feel connected to the characters knowing that your affection for them is generated by a machine? This is just one of the dilemmas artificial intelligences entering the realm of fiction brings about in regard to creativity and imagination.

Artificial intelligence can generate storylines, character names, dialogue, and scenes, and can complete these tasks in a matter of seconds. While for some this might be a great tool to use, for others this could mean a loss of job opportunity. The debate over the use of artificial intelligence in writing is not simply about the tool itself, but about the effects it has on us as people.

The Potential of AI As A Writing Tool

Sometimes writing can be unpredictable. The writer's brain may formulate a storyline with ease, while in other cases it may take days for the writer to get the hang of the plot or even one sentence. Artificial intelligence can assist the writer in these situations. It could come up with a few potential character motivations to use as a guide, organize storylines or dialogue if the writer requires help, or even point out errors in the work.

While this could be a huge help for writers trying to break into the industry, it can also help established writers with their own works in progress. To new writers, the thought of staring at a completely blank document or page can be frightening, but with this tool, a writer no longer has to be intimidated by the idea of beginning. They can instead ask questions about an already made-up storyline, dialogue, or scene.

But creating ideas for a story is only one part of the writing process. The other part is determining what makes a good story and then applying all of these ideas to create something that people will enjoy. While a program can suggest certain ideas, authors still need to decide what fits their criteria for a solid story. It can create a realistic, emotional conversation between two characters, but unless a person approves of the conversation, there's no telling if it'll actually be used.

The Downside to AI Fiction

One of the most obvious issues with AI-generated fiction is that the work can appear to be generic. While a particular piece of writing may seem well done, it can lack originality and individuality. While some stories are meant to be cliché or have extremely one-dimensional characters and situations, other stories require a strong voice and outlook.

This is an area in which human authors excel, as each person is capable of bringing something unique to the table. While the writer has the potential to create a story about completely imaginative creatures, plants, or environments, they can still bring the experience of what it's like to be human to the narrative. They can use their knowledge of the world and its people to add authenticity to a tale written in another realm. Even in the case of purely fictitious characters, a writer can enhance their work and make it more relatable by using their own lived and observed experiences as inspiration.

Another issue arises when one considers the material that could be fed into AI to train it. The Authors Guild believes that authors shouldn't have to provide their works of fiction for free or without consent for this purpose. They've also fought for legal protection for authors against this unethical use of their material. There is also a possibility that these books could flood the market, making a living as a writer even more difficult for people who rely on the income from their stories.

The authors also have to contend with the fact that readers will most likely be confused or even misled about how the writing they're enjoying came to be.

Can AI Truly Replace a Writer?

It really depends on what the creator is hoping to achieve. If they're just looking to put out a story with a basic plot in a hurry, sure, but if they're looking to create something that has the potential to change people's minds or outlooks on life, then artificial intelligence may not be the best option.

A novel isn't just an assembly of properly structured sentences; it's a series of decisions made by the writer, like what they should write about, what they shouldn't write about, what perspectives are worth exploring, and what perspectives aren't worth exploring, and how the main character should act in a certain situation. While a program can imitate the work of another writer, it can't necessarily create something that has meaning and stands out from the rest. Even if a program creates a plot and dialogue, the writer still has to weed out any generic or unoriginal parts and spot any grammatical or spelling errors.

Finding a Middle Ground

A balance can be reached in the use of AI in fiction writing, but it requires a certain amount of honesty and ethical considerations from the writer. Using AI as a guide or editing tool is one thing, but publishing a novel made entirely from AI-generated content and passing it off as one's own work is quite another.

Writers also have to consider things like copyright laws, confidentiality agreements, and the expectations of their audience. When it comes to utilizing AI as a tool to assist in the writing process, it's important for the writer to review the work and weed out any part that could be considered unoriginal or derivative of another author's work. The Authors Guild's official AI Best Practices for Authors also has advice for writers on these topics.

The Human Voice Still Matters

While artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, it could also prove to be an obstacle to new and established writers in their attempt to get their stories out there. Perhaps the real question is not who gets to use AI in fiction but rather who is truly responsible for a story's existence. While it can assist a writer in putting together paragraphs, sentences, and even whole chapters, meaningful fiction still requires intention and judgment in order to be created. After all, people don't simply read fiction for the carefully worded sentences; they read it to find new things that make them think, realize something, or change their outlook on life.

Official reference: The Authors Guild, AI Best Practices for Authors — https://authorsguild.org/resource/ai-best-practices-for-authors/