I discovered the AI revolution when a friend produced some AI art. My first thought was that this would be a brilliant to visualise places firmly in my head, especially as I have no drawing or painting skills. The blog image is one such visualisation, but I quickly discovered much more, including chatbots that write stories and applications that create audio. I’ve used it to find agents and publishers, but then the agents and publishers are closing submissions due to being inundated with AI content. It’s simultaneously helping and hurting. This is the “storming” phase of tech evolution, and it could be a wild and unpleasant ride.
In many ways the last thing someone will want to see right now is AI-generated text, but the best way to understand its capabilities is to try it. But I will say this: I solemly swear never to submit or publish AI-generated text. This is just an experiment.
So, I asked ChatGPT, “I want a blog post that summarises the challenges of AI for writers and publishers.“ I then asked it to add a paragraph on AI image generation. Here is AI explaining AI:
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way content is created, curated, and distributed in the publishing industry. While AI offers many benefits to fiction writers and publishers, it also presents some significant challenges that must be addressed.
“One of the primary challenges of AI for fiction writers is the risk of losing their jobs. As AI continues to improve, it is becoming increasingly capable of writing content that is comparable to that produced by human writers. This has led to concerns that AI could replace human writers, particularly for tasks that involve writing basic stories or generating plot outlines.
“Another challenge of AI for fiction writers is the need to adapt to new writing styles and formats. As AI algorithms become more sophisticated, they are better able to identify what type of content performs well and tailor their writing to meet those needs. This means that writers may need to learn new writing techniques and styles to remain competitive.
“For publishers of fiction, one of the main challenges of AI is managing the sheer volume of content that is being generated. With AI, it’s easier than ever to create and curate content quickly and efficiently. However, this also means that there is a flood of content available online, making it more challenging for publishers to identify and distribute high-quality content.
“Another challenge for publishers of fiction is the need to ensure that AI-generated content is original and not infringing on any copyrights. While AI can analyze existing works and generate new content, it can also create legal issues if the algorithms are not carefully designed and tested.
“AI-generated images also offer benefits for fiction writers. They can help writers visualize their settings and characters in a more vivid way, allowing for greater immersion in the story. However, this also creates problems for artists, who may see a decline in demand for their work as publishers and writers turn to AI-generated images.
“Finally, both fiction writers and publishers face the challenge of understanding how to use AI effectively. With so many AI tools and platforms available, it can be challenging to determine which technologies to use, and how to integrate them into existing workflows. To fully benefit from AI, fiction writers and publishers need to invest time and resources in learning how to use these tools and how to incorporate them into their work.
In conclusion, AI presents both opportunities and challenges for fiction writers and publishers. While AI can improve efficiency, quality, and productivity, it can also lead to job displacement, content overload, and issues with originality and copyright infringement. To address these challenges, fiction writers and publishers must work to stay informed, adapt to new technologies, and continually improve their skills and practices. By doing so, they can ensure that AI enhances, rather than detracts from, their work.”
N. P. (& AI)
