I have spoken to many other novelists about AI’s ability to write books. We are, of course, nervous about being replaced, but I think perhaps we are even more nervous about soon having nothing worthwhile to read.
In August 2023 I showed you a sample of what ChatGPT was capable of writing. I asked it to write Green Eggs and Ham in the style of Ernest Hemingway and the result was cute and entertaining.
Here is an excerpt:
I then asked it to write a story about a mouse in the style of other famous authors:
Jane Austen
“Once upon a time, in the quaint and picturesque countryside of Hartswoodshire, there lived a small but sprightly mouse named Amelia. Amelia was no ordinary mouse, for she possessed a refined taste and an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond her cozy little burrow.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
“In the dimly lit corner of a grand mansion, a mouse named Theodore scurried among the forgotten remnants of opulence. Once, this place had been alive with laughter and music, its walls echoing with the vibrant energy of revelry. But now, only whispers of the past lingered in the shadows, like distant echoes of forgotten dreams.”
Cormac McCarthy
“With trembling paws, Maisie reached out and gently lifted the gem from its resting place. It sparkled in her tiny grasp, radiating a warm and ethereal light. In that moment, she felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and joy.”
You will notice that although the software has a basic grasp on the storytelling and styles, it has a habit of baldly stating themes, which is jarring and trite. Look at this additional sentence from the Jane Austen mouse adventure: “In this corner of the world, where even a mouse could make her mark, Amelia discovered that true connections transcend the boundaries of size and species, and that the power of literature can bring unlikely souls together in the most delightful of ways.”
While I was playing with the styles of famous authors, Roberto asked, “Have you asked for the style of Carolyn Cohagan?” My stomach dropped. I had not. It had not occurred to me that my style would be known enough to make an impression on AI. So I tried it. Gulp.
Here is the opening:
And here is the conclusion:
The style suggests to me that the AI based this solely on my book The Lost Children (which makes sense because the book received the most mainstream press.) Again, there is a blunt statement of theme which is repugnant to most writers. (There are also a lot of unnecessary adjectives, which has made me self-conscious about my writing!)
And here is a meta moment from a prompt I wrote today:
This one is disturbing because, as my readers know, my graphic novel is NOT about my experience as an actress and playwright, nor “navigating the competitive and unpredictable world of theater.” The AI has taken a leap of logic using my biography and gotten it totally wrong. Worse, it does not present this as a possibility, it presents it as fact.
I have heard a lot about false AI information in the news but this is the first time I’ve experienced it first hand, and my example (I assume) is not caused by a malignant third party like Russia feeding the AI lies. This is just conjecture presented as truth. Shudder. What the hell will the next generation be learning? My first thought is, “Teachers are going to be more important than ever to guide students through these muddied waters.” Sadly, I fear that teachers will be used LESS as the AI becomes more pervasive.