I’ve yet to tap into the AI world for writing my blogs, novels, scripts, or emails. A grant writing colleague employed ChatGPT, the free AI system. for writing thank you notes to funders. She claimed it’s a timesaver for repetitive writing tasks, especially when pressed with time-sensitive submission deadlines.
I’ve had numerous opportunities via workshops and zoom meetings to learn more about AI applications for screenplays and novels. An online article at statista.com published by media researcher Amy Watson on June 9, 2023, entitled “Book Author’s Use of AI in the U.S. 2023” included a mid-year report on the use of AI by authors. I don’t know how many writers participated, but the results were fairly predictable. Twenty-three percent of authors surveyed said they’ve used artificial intelligence, with 50 percent as a grammar tool but only 10 percent for creative input in their work. I’m left wondering how the stats would compare by year end with further AI developments and applications.
Yes, I know AI is unavoidable. And, whether a professional writer or not, anyone engaged in social media uses AI in some form. I use AI when I research data for my historic novels. But I do get a little peeved when I open my laptop and get a string of words prompting me to simply type in a command or a question for an AI system to pop in the answers.
And the battle continues on the author and screenwriting front for parameters of metering out or controlling AI advances. As a member of the Authors Guild, I signed a petition appealing to the leaders of the AI industry to address specific concerns and take the following actions:
- Obtain permission for the use of copyrighted material in generative AI programs.
- Fairly compensate writers for past and ongoing use of their works in generative AI programs.
- Fairly compensate writers for the use of their works in AI output, regardless of whether the outputs infringe upon current laws.
I’m not sure how these actions fare at the moment, especially as AI applications multiply by the week! In the United States alone, approximately 15,000 companies engaged in AI in 2023. This week, I tuned into one of the free webinars demonstrating how AI via ChatGPT can create character profiles for a screenplay. The goal is to save an inordinate amount of time in developing characters traits by comparing what AI comes up with against your own subsequent creative process. And I’m thinking: What creative process? I thought the creative process started with a blank page or screen! Well, not so in the AI world. Is it really best to have a template populated with options to help brainstorm ideas? Am I ready for these steps in my own creative process? ChatGPT can also create the script’s structure. The cynic in me comes out with this one, and I know many writers will disagree with me. But it appears from the demonstration I’m watching, that AI is in the driver’s seat, and the screenwriter is the co-pilot. I’m not ready to take that leap, even if it’s a timesaver. Why? Because, if I use the template of ideas for scenes, etc. I haven’t had a chance to think about what scenes I’d conjure up. I’ve always believed that writing is thinking no matter how long the process takes. Do I really need to jumpstart creativity like a car with a dead battery?
No doubt, the automated world makes life easier and more stream-lined. And we’re all using AI in one fashion or another. Anyone who’s typed in a message in an online chat box for customer service is using AI. The live functions, or chatbots, may seem natural in language, at first. But I’ve noticed if you keep engaging with a chatbot, the curtain opens and we see the Great Wizard of Oz at work frantically working the machine’s dials and buttons. Will we, as humans, every be truly fooled by AI and its developers in their attempts at naturalness?
On a daily basis, AI improves our lives in myriad ways. The banking industry relies on AI to sift through potential fraudulence by tracking a credit card holder’s typical buying pattern. If irregular card activity and/or purchases are detected, a red flag goes up and the card’s use can be rejected. No human could analyze the enormous amounts of data to make these determinations in a timely manner. The health care industry uses AI for medical data to make more accurate diagnoses and monitor patients. Who can argue with lives are saved?
But, there’s also, what I believe to the more annoying aspects of AI, like tracking social media. For instance, Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon designate what appears on your feed or promotional emails based on posts, news items, or accounts you click on. I’m really not looking for a personalized experience when scrolling through my phone or the onslaught of emails!
If you ask Stephen King, and many have already, there’s an obvious missing component with AI in screenwriting and novel writing: Emotion. Maybe someday, AI will have emotions. I watched a PBS special that had the host talking to a robotic invention that answered all of his questions as if in a live, organic conversation. It appeared a little freaky, for sure; and the debate is that, someday, robotic creations will have their own rights. Really? I’m thinking we need to work more on rights for humans before we take the leap to humanoid robots!
Meanwhile, I’ll be looking at a blank page or piece of paper before creating a world and characters to live in it. I’ll use AI when convenient but not what feels like a crutch. At least not for now! Happy writing!