We previously wrote about Artificial Intelligence in a recent Wordeee Newsletter and now we’re covering it again from a different angle. Undoubtedly, AI will change things—for better or worse—as it furthers the maturation of the information age.
 
In this article, we’ll talk about the ethics of AI as it pertains to writers. Apart from the importance of declaring that you’ve used AI in your writing, the big question remains: is a work created with the help of AI yours or the machine’s or a combination of all the writers who did the background work and whose works might be therefore unintentionally plagiarized? Hot debates about this question are rampant, regarding intellectual property infringement, ownership of content, and the potential for misuse or manipulation of AI-generated texts.

AI platforms often use well-known authors’ work to train their writing modules—authors who have poured their souls into creating their masterpieces. Writing is not merely about stringing together coherent sentences; it's about capturing emotions, crafting unique voices, and connecting with readers on a profound level. AI, while proficient at mimicking human patterns of writing and generating text based on existing data, often struggles with generating original ideas and understanding complex human emotions and relationships. So, when you ask ChatGPT or Google Gemini to write for you, you are pulling from others’ creativity, and the result, in our opinion, is not an original work.

Publishing can be a replication nightmare and relying on AI to write a manuscript risks standardizing literature. AI-generated content can sound formulaic or generic, lacking the personal touch, the nuances that distinguish one writer’s work from another’s. This uniqueness resonates with readers and makes your work memorable. Writing is a creative process that involves grappling with ideas, revising drafts, and experiencing moments of inspiration and frustration, joy and doubt. These challenges contribute to your skills and growth as a writer and your development, both personally and professionally.

So, think about how you feel about declaring yourself “a writer,” one with the sense of achievement and satisfaction that only comes from creating something completely original and deeply personal.  

Governments and institutions worldwide are approaching the regulation and integration of AI in various ways, reflecting a range of priorities, concerns, and capabilities. Many countries are drafting or implementing laws specifically targeting AI. And many publishers are routinely asking their authors if they used AI in developing their manuscript. The need for a writer to publicly state that they used AI depends on several factors, including context, ethical considerations, and audience expectations. It may affect your ability to get a book contract. While AI can be a valuable tool for a writer, aiding in research, generating ideas, and so on, our recommendation is that writers should approach AI only as a tool to complement their skills, rather than a substitute for them.

In sum, remember that the ethical use of AI in writing involves transparency, accountability, respect for intellectual property, mitigation of biases, and consideration of the impact on creativity and originality.

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