AI writing is A-ok if you’re a billionaire. For everyone else, it can be a career-ending scandal

Stanley Druckenmiller, a hedge fund investor, penned an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal criticizing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's decision regarding government purchases of long-term Treasury bonds. This op-ed sparked controversy due to suspicions that it was drafted with the aid of AI. Critics accused Druckenmiller of plagiarism, questioning whether he had contributed to the writing or if his opinions bore responsibility.

The Wall Street Journal defended the use of AI, stating that Druckenmiller had nothing to be embarrassed about. However, the uneven standard of AI use in society became apparent. While a financier can openly use AI for an op-ed, writers in other fields face severe consequences for their AI use. Alex Preston's book review and Steven Rosenbaum's AI-involvement in his work resulted in public backlash and career-ending consequences.

Even those who haven't made obvious errors, like Mia Ballard and Jerry Falade, have lost lucrative book deals after being accused of using AI. Granta magazine halted publishing winners of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize following a suspected AI case. Novelists have faced the brunt of AI-related scrutiny, but self-published author H.M.

Wolfe has defended her reputation against AI allegations and maintained a loyal fanbase. The use of AI in writing seems less taboo in business and technology contexts, but the inconsistency in standards for disclosing AI use raises ethical concerns. Radical AI transparency is proposed as a solution, requiring every piece of work to disclose the extent of AI involvement in its creation.