"Once Upon A Time..."

AI is here, and in all likelihood it is here to stay. That means here on Vocal, too. AI IS permitted as a tool for Vocal creators, as long as the Policy is followed:

Reading the entire Vocal-generated policy is the best thing to do, but I know that there will always be a few people that want the Cliff's Notes version, so here it is, lifted directly from the linked article above:

"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."

But Wait! I've NEVER Seen That Done....

Oh, honey, neither have I. But the lack of following the policy doesn't mean that there is no policy. It means that Vocal hasn't found a way to monitor and administer accountability yet. And, that truly IS a big job. Just take a look at the new Latest Stories tab and watch the content load! While this parade of content can be overwhelming, it's also a handy place to practice identifying AI-generated content. And, to make it fun, I've gamified it with AINGO (aka AI Bingo) for stories.

AINGO

To Play:

• A fast round of the game can be played by clicking on the Latest Stories tab and looking for 'Once Upon a Time' as the first sentence. Most, but not all, AI-generated 'fiction' stories start with this., so most players can check that box off complete right away. In the rare instance that you don't quickly find a story to check on the Latest Story tab, check the Fiction home page.
• NOTE- Many actual fairy tales also start that way, so, as with any identifier, this isn't a rock-solid proof of AI, but it IS a great indicator. Of course, if this was a retelling of an actual existing fairy tale, that should also be noted and attributed.
• Read through the content and look for the other identifiers. An innocent (child, young woman, valiant price, etc.) seeks (peace, experience, adventure, treasure). They may find a magic item (keys are popular) or meet a wise person, (wizard, sage, magic dragon) that helps them. Everyone is amazed, the world is a better place now, and their story lives on forever.
• Not shown on the AINGO card are other common elements: a lack of dialogue between the 'characters', vivid description of the village (mountain, cave, forest, town), and a steady 'admiring' narrative. And, inexplicably to me, the name of the location, wise man, princess, or dragon may very well be 'Eldoria'; my guess is that is sounds magical fairy-tale-ish.
• Let me know in the comments if you were able to make a 3-in-a-row AINGO on the first story you read. Then, choose a few more 'Once Upon a Time' stories to test the game.

So- AI is just for Fiction, then?

Ah, no, my dear! The AINGO card above is just for fiction, but there are plenty of AI-generated non-fiction stories. They can be a bit trickier to find, but with practice you can do it. My next post on non-fiction AI content will be linked below once it goes live.

In the meantime, please check out my guide to Making BIG MONEY on Vocal using AI.

I appreciate you reading my non-AI-generated thoughts! While you’re here, please choose one or more of the ways below to interact with me and the other writers on Vocal.

FIVE ways to interact with writers on Vocal:

1. Leave a comment and share your thoughts. What did I miss on the AINGO sheet? Did you get three in a row? Were you able to cover the whole sheet in one story?

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