Dare I broach one of the most controversial topics for writers today—the ever-expanding presence of artificial intelligence (AI), the subject of which fills the online forums of my writing groups on a near daily basis?
According to a Google search, the term "artificial intelligence" was coined back in the mid-1950s, although research on machines simulating intelligence had been ongoing since the early '50s. We already use AI for editing functions like spell-check and general research, and I even scan its summaries of medical queries (though I verify with other sources I've deemed credible). But are computers getting too intelligent?
Nearly every day, I read about authors who are bombarded with increasingly sophisticated scams. It can be a challenge to determine whether that flowery letter of solicitation that arrives in your email inbox purporting to offer literary representation of your latest novel is written by a human. In some cases, when authors don't byte (pun intended), they even receive threats of bodily harm.
And then there's the growing prevalence of plagiarism. It has become too easy to duplicate books and then sell them to unsuspecting customers without the author's knowledge. Worse yet, I've heard stories of copyright infringement wherein text is lifted and then repackaged as another person's creative work.
This rapid spread of improprieties is beginning to feel like the Wild, Wild West!
The flip side is that the publishing industry still frowns on the use of AI to create a finished product, and they clearly state so in their submission guidelines. Additionally, to combat the false representation of writing as human-authored, the Authors Guild (AG) proactively developed a seal for those who certify the authenticity of their work. Once an application is completed, AG registers the work's title and issues a seal with a certificate number the author can use to market their book. Still, the certification process relies on human integrity, a precious commodity that seems to be on the wane these days.
There was a time when e-books struggled to gain acceptance, when I swore I'd never switch over to reading a book I couldn't hold in my hands. Now, I almost exclusively purchase the e-book version because I prefer it. Another AI benefit I enjoy is the creation of images such as the one accompanying this post—idyllic vignettes that provide a dose of nirvana to help navigate an increasingly dismal socio-political climate.
It seems AI is here to stay, so why not work it to our advantage in a manner that maintains integrity in authorship? While I worry about the lack of adequate regulation, I certainly hope we can get ahead of the game before the art of writing goes to "hell in a handbasket."