A recent experiment led by fantasy author Mark Lawrence showcased that we, as a society, are not very adept at distinguishing between AI-generated writing and human-authored stories. During the experiment, participants demonstrated a preference for short stories crafted by AI over those penned by other well-known authors, prompting concerns regarding the evolution of writing in our digital era.

The test involved a selection of eight brief fantasy narratives, each around 350 words, allowing readers to rate the stories and identify their origins. Lawrence noted, “This blog post is a genuine attempt to investigate where things stand with AI writing. It is not beating the drum for AI or advocating its use.” However, it appears that the majority of readers found themselves unable to discern which stories were generated by AI, questioning the viability and future of human writers in the critiquing arena.

Notably, AI stories secured the highest ratings, outperforming entries from esteemed authors including Robin Hobb, who has a commendable track record in the literary world.

Regarding this development, Lawrence remarked, “Should AI generate fiction, imagery, voices etc., competing with artists in a number of fields and fooling the public? No, of course not. I hate that idea and most people do too.” Thus, it is clear that while technology advances, we must not disregard the essence and value of human creativity.