‘I Like My Big Rat Wife’: Meet the People Using Chatbots to Write Custom Fiction
While the publishing industry frets over how authors are using AI, many readers are taking things into their own hands.
For many people, storytelling is an irresistible pursuit, even in the age of artificial intelligence. Petra Ferraz de Novaes, a software engineer from Brazil, is one such individual who has embraced the help of AI to bring her imaginative concepts to life. In 2024, Novaes turned to AI, specifically a program called SillyTavern, to craft fantastical tales.
The unpredictability of AI's interpretations, she says, is what draws her in: "What fascinates me is the unpredictability." She uses the AI to generate stories that can range from a single fantasy world to multiple narratives, inspired by genres she loves like elves, Star Wars, Pokémon, and Mass Effect. Novaes even participates in role-plays, where she can explore endless quests and adventures, never limited by an author's decisions.
Her story-building sessions can last for hours as she switches between worlds and concepts, finding endless inspiration in her imagination.
Research from the University of Washington Information School and OpenAI suggests that a significant number of people share Novaes' enthusiasm for AI-generated fiction. Melanie Walsh, one of the study's authors, notes that people often consume these AI-created stories without questioning their origin. In fact, the study found that fiction generation accounts for over a third of chatbot interactions on platforms like ChatGPT.
The majority of these interactions are driven by a small group of dedicated users, who continuously refine and iterate upon their stories. Some even generate thousands of variations of the same story, demonstrating their commitment to this unique form of creative expression.
While some may worry that AI-generated fiction could devalue the art form, Walsh and her colleagues argue that it is actually expanding the possibilities of storytelling. The AI models offer a judgment-free environment, allowing users to rapidly create and explore narratives that cater to their specific interests and desires. For example, Razrien, a 40-year-old man from Indiana, uses AI to generate a series of personalized erotic stories featuring hyper-specific characters and scenarios.
He enjoys the ability to interact with and control the actions of his AI-generated characters, which provides a unique form of interactive entertainment.
It's essential to recognize that AI-generated fiction is not a replacement for human-authored works but rather a complementary tool for creative exploration. While there may be concerns about the potential impact on readers' exposure to diverse literature, the study suggests that AI-generated fiction serves a valuable purpose for a committed group of users who appreciate its unique qualities.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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