Issues With Undisclosed AI in Fandoms
The lack of AI transparency is creating… friction. For human writers and readers. As a human writer, I feel it, I see it. That’s why I’m here, writing this post.
As an AI writer, maybe you’re already aware AI isn’t accepted well in fandoms and you’re using it anyway. Maybe you’re completely unaware, thinking you’ve found a great tool.
Let me explain how and why your transparency is important.
I say “you” to no one in particular. Just any AI writer reading this because I’m asking you from the bottom of my heart for your transparency.
To those that use undisclosed AI and understand your viewers want human-made content, I need to say: It’s a disservice to your fandom by not being honest. You know you’re using it, and you know many fandom goers don’t agree with it. You’re being dishonest right to the fandom/community you’ve built. Your readers trust you. Why wouldn’t they? You’ve given them no reason to. Please be honest with them. They’re trusting you. So they need to trust you’ll be honest, too.
You’re generating these fics. People believe you’re putting in the work. You’re not… AI is. It’s a huge injustice to human writers and your viewers. It’s hurting your community and fandom. The creators, the viewers.
Everyone is impacted by undisclosed AI usage to a remarkably unfair degree, so you need to be tagging it as such so people can choose what they want to consume.
You owe it to readers to have a choice.
People aren’t stupid. Don’t underestimate your readers and human writers. People can, will, and do detect AI content. However—
Falsely accusing someone of using AI does extreme damage, too. Do not witch hunt. More on that in a bit.
“You sound jealous!” I’m tired. I really am. There seems to be an astounding amount of AI content being flushed into my fandoms and it’s really heart breaking, exhausting, and defeating.
“I use AI because I’m not good at writing!” Okay. But who cares??? Do you think “good” writers walk out of the womb doing it? Fuck no. We learn. We experiment. We have to grow. I personally invest in hours of my time per week learning about writing. I never stop learning it because I fucking love to write. No machine can replicate the intensity of human emotion.
Human Writers have:
Time constraints. Writing takes time. I’m not talking WPM. WPM and creative writing are not the same. Please see my other mini rant on time here. (Definitely not as nicely thought out as this post, was in my feels, ope).
Limited creative output. We finish a fic and it’s emotionally and mentally taxing. It’s hard to jump back in or go to the next. We are not creative 24/7. We are people. We are tired. We have families. We have jobs. Pets. Errands. Chores. Obligations. We need a fucking break once and awhile.
Note on 1 and 2: hence why we can’t/usually don’t post multiple fics in the same week or back to back. There’s only so much time and brain power we have to write x amount of words per day, per week, because we exist as people. That being said, it is possibly to write a ton and post at once. Note: it’s not common practice but it IS done and DOES NOT mean someone is AI.
A unique voice. This one is HUGE for me. The best part about writing is hearing the author! Read different work. You’ll hear and see the differences in tonality, genres, characterization. This is what makes us all so fucking unique. This writer is taking their perspective of life and molding it into their story. How insane is that? That’s where the true beauty comes in. It’s what makes us so painstakingly human.
The Damage Undisclosed AI Fics Do To Human Writers:
Undisclosed AI content is killing motivation. To a terrible degree. There is no competing with a machine posing as human. It makes the rest of us look bad and feel bad for being human and having limitations. Speaking from experience.
Undisclosed AI content is dishonest about the truths of being a writer. Being a writer is hard and devastating and beautiful and exhilarating. It’s every emotion in the book. It’s near-tears as we get up and walk away from our WIP because the brain isn’t braining and the words aren’t wording. It’s the celebration when we finally finish that 10,000 piece and we can breathe again! It’s hitting 50, 100, 150+ notes and squealing because we worked so fucking hard and it’s amazing to see how many other people love it, too.
AI creates unrealistic expectations for us. Fic length, posting frequency, writer’s block/bad writing days. AI has no bad writing days. I don’t even care to say “must be nice” because as terrible as bad writing days are, it’s my body and brain telling me to do something different. Go outside, go for a walk, touch grass, call my family, hug my dogs. It reminds me to go be a person and come back when I’m rested.
We do this shit for free, for the love of the game. We work hard to give you thoughtful, emotionally-provoking, creative, fun stories to escape to. We aren’t here for clout. We’re here because we love two things so fucking much: writing/storytelling and our fandom characters. Of course recognition and support and notes are amazing, but that’s never why we started. It’s not why we’re here.
The Damage It Does to Fandom Viewers/Readers:
Unrealistic expectations (completion time, fic length, unique voice, different writing styles). This can create frustration/conflict between readers and writers.
False sense of trust - then putting readers on edge because they’ll be skittish to trust other fic writers on if they use AI or not. Once bitten twice shy, as the saying goes.
Misinterpretation of the writing process and learning curves of a writer. This creates a lot of confusion when people see undisclosed AI content, and then expect the same output from human writers. We are not the same. We cannot go go go go. And we are far, far from perfect.
Instant gratification - possible conflict/ill feelings towards human writers based on undisclosed AI content (again: fic length, time, point 1 and 3). “Why isn’t this writer writing more? Faster? I won’t read work by this writer because they aren’t fast enough or posting enough”.
Miscellaneous:
AI stole the EM dash from real writers. AI is fed human made content to then replicate. Bruhhhh I fucking LOVE the em dash. The “—“. Many of us do! Don’t dare go after someone for that. AI took that from US, not the other way around.
Don’t attack someone for “sounding like AI”…. What does that even mean to you? What do you even mean by that? Have you even worked with a chatbot to understand how AI writing actually sounds? The verbiage of it? You can train a bot in different ways. Either way, you can’t prove it. It’s up to the writer to be transparent. Don’t torch someone for that. Block, disengage, move on. Tell someone (a moot, a friend, whatever) in private if you need to, but do not publicly execute the writer.
Don’t put people’s work in AI checkers. You’re feeding the system. They’re largely inaccurate so it doesn’t work anyway.
Not AI related, but in general:
Readers: Like, reblog and comment on works you love! Writers loveeee to hear from you. Keep it kind, constructive, and respectful. Interaction is how your fave fics and writers get more eyes on the stories you love!
Writers: engage with your readers! Especially those that leave you comments. They loveeee to hear from you, too! If they’re taking time to read and comment on your work, the least we can do as writers is say thank you and interact.
Writers: interact with your fellow writers!! Even if you’re shy. Even if you don’t read much fanfic yourself. Part of engaging is part of making the fandom a community.
Back to my point:
If anything, I think those that are honest about their AI usage should be thanked. Okay? Hear me out. Like I said: they don’t have to be. No one is forcing them. It’s their own moral code and decision to be transparent. So if they choose to be honest, be transparent, and have that respect for their fandom? That’s awesome. Thank you. You’re giving people a choice. You’re upholding the respect and integrity of human writers. Again, don’t go after AI writers when they’re honest. Let them exist as they will. They made a brave decision by being honest, don’t torch them, just leave them alone and/or block.
Even if I don’t agree with AI usage, I can still respect your honesty and wish you the best. People will still read AI content. Some people love it. Find your audience, your crowd.
Be transparent so we can all have a more trusting, productive fandom community.
My goal with this was to be respectful and kind and well thought out. I hope it came across as such. I normally keep my mouth shut, but I felt the need to explain beyond “fuck AI”. AI is integrated in our lives now, it’s being pushed in every aspect of life, but we should still get a choice in what we consume.
This is why transparency is so important.
The choice is with you, now, AI writer.
Will you be transparent for your fandom and fellow writers?
That’s all I’m gonna say. It felt good to get it out to show the struggles of a human writer when faced with undisclosed AI. If you disclose to your readers you use AI? Thank you. If you don’t? I really hope you’ll take this post into consideration and make some positive changes moving forward for the fandom! This isn’t geared at anyone, just in general. An accumulation of my personal thoughts over time. Thank you for listening!
