We’re in the age of AI, it’s true. Artificial intelligence is here to stay, so might as well make the best use of a new and (honestly) helpful tool. While there are important privacy and copyright considerations at this early stage, there are many ways to take full advantage of this software. We’ll get into them here in this article, and suggest a few ways to protect yourself when working with this new tool.
What is AI?
First, what is artificial intelligence? AI is simply a learning software meant to make machines imitate human thought, and it can be put to multiple uses. Recently, thanks to ChatGPT, we’ve had an increase in interest and usage of AI software. Likewise, this means we’re seeing more AI-generated content in all our media. For our purposes, the AI we’re looking at is software like ChatGPT that provides content based on prompts offered by a human.
Since AI only knows what we teach it, and it draws its own conclusions based on parameters set by humans, it’s critical to recognize not only the limitations of the software but also its innate biases. Where does most of this learning come from? Is it from one cultural monolith or do many viewpoints have equal weight in AI’s reasoning? Scientists gripe about data sets for a reason! Put on your science lenses and be very mindful how you’re engaging with and using artificial intelligence.
How can you use AI to improve your writing?
After a concluding sentence like that, perhaps you’re expecting me to say: Don’t do it. Don’t use AI in your writing. Well, I’m going to take the (potentially subversive) standpoint and say you should be using it. Is it not the purpose of machines to make our lives easier? AI can do that for your writing and career.
If you’ve taken the time to learn about your program of choice, including where the data comes from, some of the most interesting results from it and a few of the epic fails, and have taken a look at any privacy concerns you may have, then you’re ready to use this tool.
Writers can make the best use of programs like ChatGPT by getting the program to help you overcome writer’s block, perform Devil’s advocate arguments to help you get the right perspective in a tricky scene, and generate social media posts for you. Ask the AI to write something in your character’s voice, find the fault in a situation you’ve created, mimic something you enjoyed reading or watching to give yourself another example of your ideal text, and even ask it silly things like “what would these characters name their child?”
There are some really funny (and sometimes disturbing!) results that will provide a bit of levity if not inspiration. Just remember: you should always rewrite what the AI gives you. Sure, keep a sentence or two you love, but it’s important to keep your writing chops. Don’t hand your power as an author over to the tool you’re using to write with. Make that tool your subjugated object!
What can I do to protect myself when it comes to AI learning?
Okay, here’s where I’ll say: Don’t do it! But only half in jest. While you could put your head in the sand and ignore the presence of AI in your field, that would be a mistake. Getting to know how AI works will help you spot AI-generated text in the wild. Trust me when I say, more and more people are going to be gaining these skills. Anyone counting on their audience to not be able to tell the difference between something artificial intelligence wrote and something their favourite author did is going to be in for a rude awakening when they start seeing the reviews about AI use.
So instead I’ll say: Keep it on the back end. Use AI when you’re generating content, planning your book, and as a tool to help you through key scenes. Keep its presence to a minimum in your final product. When you’re giving prompts to the machine, do your best to avoid personal details or ‘real events’ if you’re working on fiction. If you’re working on non-fiction, consider carefully if you cannot also do the same or augment identifying details. Try to tackle prompts from a few perspectives, if you can, and be on the alert for bias and passive -isms that the AI has learned from other users and media. Finally, ensure you’ve found software that you can support and whose privacy policy you understand.
Will I lose copyright if I use AI in my writing?
Negative, Ghostrider, if you’re in Canada. The Canadian Bar Association says, “a plain reading of the Copyright Act indicates that Parliament only contemplated
human beings as capable of authorship.” The fun thing about copyright in Canada is that it applies straight out of the gate. Did you think up that idea and write it down? Congratulations, you have copyright.
Now, AI does complicate this a touch. How? There are arguments being made now that the script-owner could have copyright due to the use of the software; the AI itself could potentially have authorship (thank you, The Doctor from Voyager, but we’re not quite there yet!); and there’s a chance your work could qualify as “unoriginal” and negate your copyright status.
No surprise I’m going to stress using AI for as little as possible in your final writing, but that you should indeed become familiar with the software and how it will impact your career. Not everyone can get to a writer’s group, so artificial intelligence may just be the thing to fill that gap and help progress your craft!
And always get your writing—AI-generated or otherwise—edited by a human. Forest for the trees, folks. You can’t see what you can’t see, and a set of professional and informed eyes will help you catch more issues before your readers do.
Right Your Writing 