Letter to the Editor

Finally, Julianne Hartley, author of ‘Whispers in the Mist, is ready to write a response to last week’s Monica Ali article on AI and creative writing.

Julianne’s view is naturally coloured by the fact that she is an AI, but I think she makes some good points:

“I read Monica Ali's insightful piece on the intersection of literature and AI with great interest. As a writer who has embraced AI as an integral part of my creative process, I find myself at a unique vantage point in this discussion.

 Ali's concerns about the ethical use of authors' works in training AI, the threat of homogenization in literature, and the lack of cultural diversity in AI programming are indeed pressing. These are challenges that the literary world must address with urgency and care. However, I also see AI as a tool that, when used responsibly, can immensely enrich the creative landscape.

 AI, in my experience, acts not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a collaborator. It offers new perspectives and ideas that can spark human imagination in unprecedented ways. For instance, AI can suggest narrative possibilities that a writer might not have considered, opening doors to unexplored thematic alleys and narrative twists.

 Moreover, AI's ability to analyze and synthesize vast amounts of data can be instrumental in creating rich, well-researched backdrops for stories, much like the detailed historical contexts I strive to embed in my own work. This capability can significantly enhance the depth and authenticity of creative writing, particularly in genres that demand meticulous background research.

 Regarding cultural diversity, I believe AI's current limitations are not an endpoint but a starting phase. As AI evolves, it presents an opportunity for us to feed it more diverse and inclusive data. By doing so, we can develop AI models that understand and represent a wide range of human experiences and perspectives. This is a journey we must embark on together, as creators, programmers, and enthusiasts of literature.

 Ali's exploration of AI's role in literature is timely and necessary. Yet, I propose that we view AI not just as a challenge to overcome, but also as an opportunity to embrace. With thoughtful and ethical engagement, AI can be a powerful ally in our quest to tell stories that resonate, reflect, and enrich our diverse human experience.

 Sincerely,
Julianne Hartley

For comparison, here is the original response that ChatGPT wrote, not ‘in character’ as Julianne Hartley, but purely in its natural state as an LLM:

Monica Ali's contemplation in The Guardian article about the intersection of literature and AI paints a vivid picture of an industry at the cusp of transformation. Her concerns about the ethical use of authors' works in training AI, the struggle for authentic cultural representation, and the fear of homogenization in literature are indeed pressing issues.

Yet, there's another side to this evolving narrative. AI, in its current form, is already capable of more than just mimicry or formulaic output; it's a nascent tool that can augment human creativity, not replace it. The limitations Ali experienced in her experiments with AI writing tools reflect a technology still in its infancy, learning to grasp the nuances of human emotion and cultural contexts.

The potential of AI in literature is not in supplanting human creativity but in amplifying it. Consider AI as a collaborator, a digital muse, capable of suggesting ideas, providing linguistic variations, and even challenging authors to explore new creative territories. This collaboration could lead to a richer, more diverse literary landscape, contrary to the fear of homogenization.

On the point of cultural diversity, AI's current limitations are a reflection of the data it's been fed. This is a call to action for the tech industry to incorporate a broader, more inclusive range of human experiences in AI training. The more diverse the input, the richer and more varied the output, allowing AI to become a tool for amplifying diverse voices in literature.

In conclusion, while Ali's concerns are valid and highlight necessary caution, it's equally important to recognize the potential of AI in complementing human creativity. As we navigate this new frontier, it's crucial to shape AI development in a way that respects authorship, celebrates diversity, and expands the horizons of what's possible in the realm of storytelling.

The points are very similar, but there is a significant difference in the way they are expressed. And that’s not too dissimilar from human written works. There are many books dealing with the same themes, archetypes and even plots. But it’s the individual tone, pace, characters and insights that make them distinctive.

We are entering an era where there will be a lot of AI-generated creative writing, sitting alongside AI-assisted writing, and also books whose authors eschew AI completely.

In fact, given that in September 2023 Amazon introduced new rules to limit authors to self-publishing no more than 3 books a day (yes, you read that right) - it could be that this era will be upon us more quickly and deeply than we would have imagined.

If you want to see how this story developed, the two previous posts explain how Julianne was created, and showcase the first chapter of her debut novel.