What You Need to Know About AI (For Now)

AI will not destroy publishing. At least not right now.*

Here are two big reasons I think that: 

1. The legal standing of AI-generated text. 

Because: Machine-written text can’t be copyrighted. 

This is good and bad. It’s good because that means people can’t ask ChatGPT to mimic someone else’s writing (like yours or mine), generate content, and then make money off of that by owning and selling it — whether the copy is “sold” as an article or a full-length book.

But it’s also bad because it means that you MUST substantially change AI written text in order for you to own that text. And even then — copyright will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Which is why I’m not using it to write this email, or create content for my clients. 

2. AI is getting canceled and sued

When authors got wind of Prosecraft – a “tool” authors could use to improve their work that relied on stolen content — authors protested on social media. The Authors’ Guild threatened to sue, and within days the company was shut down by its founder.  

And there are so, so many lawsuits.

All that said — none of this matters if you do one simple thing.

Write Yourself. 

I said this before ChatGPT and generative AI, and I will keep saying it. 

As experts and thought leaders and wannabe bestselling authors, the best thing you can do for your future bestseller is to write. You can write badly, write well, and get help with your writing but if you want to be a published author — get writing yourself. 

No tool needed.

*Right now is key, because tech — especially AI — changes quickly. If you’re reading this in 2024 or beyond, I may be wrong — or hopefully, proven right and supported by the courts.