Why, Oh Why, I Hunt AI!

There have been some excellent articles and comments recently around AI-created content (which I understand) and bots/scripts (of which I am learning). It is a good reminder for me that just because we publish something doesn't mean that everyone/anyone has seen it, much less remembered it.

This is a working compilation of the articles and resources that I use on the Vocal platform to identify and report unattributed AI-generated content, and perhaps even more importantly- WHY I do it.

WHY Do I Care That AI-Generated Content is on Vocal?

Actually- that is the wrong question. The correct question is 'Why do I care about UNATTRIBUTED-AI content on Vocal?" Because: Vocal DOES allow AI-generated content: as long as it's within the Vocal Standards. Here's the link to those, and it's also our first tool.

Since I don't expect everyone to click through to it, here is a snippet of the policy:

AI-generated content on Vocal should be labeled clearly as such. This labeling should be included at the beginning of the content itself as well as in any accompanying materials, whether it be links to AI-generated content or AI-generated images within the story. All AI-generated content should also be clearly attributed to the AI software that generated it. If you dabble with AI-generated content on Vocal, it is important to also be aware of the potential for copyright infringement.

What's my issue with unattributed-AI on Vocal?

I spell that out in this article, which also includes a positive way to connect with writers, increase engagement on the platform, etc.

Specifically; here are two reasons from the article above (you really should read the whole thing if you haven't yet) I'm hot about unattributed AI on Vocal:

1. Unattributed AI content clogs the platform and can turn off readers by giving the impression that it is nothing but clickbait and unoriginal content. This is not good for creators seeking to expand the reach of their natively-generated content.
2. Unattributed AI, if it puts-off readers, dilutes the investment of Vocal+ members, those that pay to create and maximize their benefits and time, on the platform.

Haven't I written about AI Before?

Oh yeah, I sure have. Here are the Tools, Articles, and even poems that I've written about and because of Unattributed-AI on Vocal.

Tools

1.) You Can Find It! Identifying AI-Assisted and Generated Content. This is a serious tool that only took me months to complete. So it comes first. This is the Introduction and Table of Contents. All of the other chapters are linked one-after the other- and are live on Vocal.

2.) "Once Upon a Time" You might have learned the song BINGO as a child; this is AINGO, and sadly it is all too easy to complete the AINGO card once you know what to look for.

Articles

How to Make BIG Money on Vocal With AI! This article is my MOST READ on Vocal, with 970 reads as of this morning.

I wrote it specifically to draw in new creators that didn't read the Vocal standards or are searching for that pie-in-the-sky instant gratification and get rich scheme. And also purposefully as a sticky-headline to attract them. I'm pretty happy that it works since I get several reads a week after almost a year. (Spoiler alert: I also hope you'll read it and I can then see the numbers turn to 1000 reads...)

Poems

How Do You Congratulate AI? Sometimes, when I am frustrated or angry, I get that writing itch, and often that turns out passive-aggressive. This poem is that.

When the (now-deleted, thank you!) profile C S Lewis received Leaderboard recognition and payment for 2nd place as a supportive commenter, I'd had enough. This poem, and accompanying explanation, was the result.

Conclusion and a bit about Plagiarism

I really hope (really- even a small amount of hope is still hope), that I won't write anymore about unattributed AI on Vocal. But that could still happen.

One of my concerns about AI is the way information is gathered to inform and grow its capabilities. All online content is threatened by this 'scraping' of content; it's one of the reasons there was a strike of the Screen Actor's Guild in 2023. Creators of all types, alive and historical, can and do have their content gathered electronically and then fed into programs to fuel AI development.

Some platforms, like Medium, have added blocks and doorways, and whatever else the safeguards are called now, as a way to restrict that scraping access. It holds for a while and then is breached. Maybe it will get better. I don't know.

I do know that plagiarism is its own special form of hell, and that within the past four days I've reported two profiles because they plagiarized Top Stories and published them- word for word- as their own. (Both profiles have since been deleted.) Here's something I've written about what you can do:

I do know that the better informed we are the better things will be. I've found the work of fellow Vocal creator and published author Cendrine Marrouat very helpful, especially this piece on AI-Generated content of copywriting.

This piece from Cendrine on copywriting infringement reporting is wonderful. Sadly, bots and those folks seeking to profit off of your work can and do steal and publish what you have written.

And here's the link to Vocal's Google form to report a plagiarized story. I hope you never need it.

~

Please do leave a comment. Let me know: was this helpful? Do you have suggestions on articles I can research on the topics? What questions do you have that I've left unanswered?

You can subscribe to me for free, too!