Why doesn't Vocal flag stories written by AI?
Readers should be informed if a story is 100% AI-generated
UPDATE: Vocal policy requires that AI content be labeled as such, but many authors are not doing this. https://vocal.media/resources/an-update-from-vocal-on-ai-generated-content In my opinion, Vocal should enforce this policy, either by adding an 'AI-generated' flag as part of the moderation process, or by unpublishing works and authors who do not comply.
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Whether you love it or hate it, use it or fear it, AI is changing creativity forever.
One of the many problems with AI is that most websites do not make it clear when content is written by AI and not by a human author.
There are dozens of AI text generators. We are all familiar with ChatGPT and probably Bard, but what about Gemini, Copysmith, Jasper, Article Forge, CopyAI, and many others springing up every day.
Then there's 100s more tools which make audio, voices, video and images – like Midjourney which I used to make the image for this post.
But in parallel to these AI generators are a growing number of AI detectors. Give a detector a block of text and it will tell you how much of it was written by AI, and how confident it is in that assessment. Some AI content detectors include GPTZero, Undetectable and Scribbr.
As I write this, the first page of Latest Stories includes the following stories which are 100% AI-generated according to Quillbot's AI content detector:
https://vocal.media/longevity/the-bittersweet-truth-about-diet-soda
https://vocal.media/motivation/me-in-the-wondering-space
https://vocal.media/journal/what-is-your-opinion-about-plagiarism
https://vocal.media/education/embodying-compassion-the-sacred-duty-of-feeding-the-fasting-person-in-ramadan
And there are many more.
So if it's this easy to test if something's written by AI, why doesn't Vocal tell us?
Vocal says it is a website "for creators to get discovered and fund their creativity". I would argue that allowing unmarked AI content to take up readers' valuable time only takes away from the chances of a human content creator to get discovered and earn money.
I'm not saying AI-generated content should be banned. It has a place as a brainstorming tool, and as an aid for those whose first language isn't English.
But I do think readers should be able to decide for themselves whether they are going to give their valuable time and attention to an AI or a human.
What do you think?
About the Creator
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Comments (3)
It actually is a violation of Vocal Media's rules if the AI is not identified as such. Latest Stories isn't as bad, however, as when they make something a Top Story or grant AI some other accolades. I agree with you that it does have its place & that, given the existence of several good AI detectors, it does beg the question why they don't use them.
Vocal does have standards on AI, which depend on creators following them and including the required disclaimers: https://vocal.media/resources/an-update-from-vocal-on-ai-generated-content Some people, myself included, spend some of our time reporting ai and sharing the standards with the creators. My profile has several resources I’ve made to identify and also ‘hunt’ AI, if you are interested. Should this be necessary? No. I pay to create and interact on this platform, I shouldn’t have to act as an employee. But {shrug} it’s where we are here right now.
My brand is based on using Ai. It has help me so much even with educating my children. I am completely transparent about my content with Ai. This morning I had two stories not be approved. I found it unfair. I am using this in a way to educate others and also something that my children and come back to and see. Times are definitely changing and I agree people should be transparent if they are using Ai for their content.