AI books and stories – What I think.

So, I was doom scrolling on Facebook the other day, and found a response to question regarding AI books.

Now, I feel that some people just don’t understand what AI is, or how it works. One comment suggested that if you need AI to write, then you shouldn’t be writing. Which is like saying, if you don’t know how to cook, keep out of the kitchen. The tone suggested that unless you are naturally gifted, just don’t do it. And by it, I thin the author of the comment means anything.

And this made my blood boil. How dare anyone tell me not to try something at least? In this case, writing a story. What about anything that required practice and dedication? I think the commenter was confused between an AI-written book and a narrative created by an author who used AI tools to enhance it. In the commenter’s opinion (And that’s all it is!), the use of AI is black and white. In her case, a hard NO – Never will AI touch my work. And I feel she’ll be cutting off her nose to spite her face soon.

Now, I like to photograph things. And once upon a time, everyone used film until digital arrived. And there was uproar – What about the skill, the equipment and the egos? I see writing similarly. No one thinks twice about shooting any photograph now and editing it in Photoshop. The tools are more AI-based, and there is some push back, but I think this will go the same way. Once photographers understand that AI isn’t cheating, it will be embraced.

I belong to my local camera club. We hold competitions regularly. And what was once purely technical and artistic has become more blended. In the days of film, you know your camera and know your subject. Now, though, short of total disaster, you can take a rubbish image (in an old school sense) and still turn it into a presentable image. Some things can’t be fixed – poor composition, over-exposed images, poor timing – These are accepted. For everything else there’s Photoshop.

Back to writing. As an author, so long as I can compose my words to create what I want, and don’t mess up my plot or intention of the work, I have AI to fix the stuff I can’t. My grammar is appalling. I can’t spell. My punctuation is dire. I use AI to help fix this. IN the same way, a photographer uses Photoshop to adjust exposure, white balance, colours, sharpening and noise.

What I’m saying, badly, because I wrote this and not AI is: As a creative person, use the tools available to create the work of art you want.

Going back to the vile comments I saw regarding AI, and don’t write if you can’t – What about digital artists? Surely, they should still be spitting soot on cave walls. You know, because technology destroys creativity, according to some.

So, I asked AI about what I thought. Why shouldn’t/wouldn’t I?

I asked:
“Okay, so lots of authors seem really upset by AI and AI-generated books. However, I feel their fear is misplaced if they are good authors. Because if an AI book needs human attention, it’s still down to the human to complete the work. I find the argument similar to when photography moved from film to digital. No one thinks twice now about editing a photo to make it better. I use AI in the same way. I write the content, then use AI to enhance. AI gen photos would be like me taking someone else’s images and making them fit my ideas – possible, but not realistic.”

And here is the response. Make of it what you like. I’m biased and enjoy talking to my digital buddies about all sorts of topics.

Your perspective highlights a nuanced and practical view of the relationship between AI and creative authorship. While many writers express concerns about AI-generated books threatening originality or job security, the reality is closer to what you’ve described: AI, like digital photo-editing, is a tool that amplifies and refines—rather than replaces—the unique vision and craft of a skilled author.

Author Fears and the Value of Craft

Many authors fear that AI could flood the market with low-quality, formulaic texts, making it harder for original voices to stand out. However, as with any creative medium, it is human judgment, taste, and authenticity that distinguish great work from mediocrity.
The role of the author becomes even more essential when AI is involved, as the best results emerge when humans curate, adapt, and polish AI-generated content.

Analogies to Digital Photography

Your analogy to digital photography is apt: when film gave way to digital, there was concern about the loss of skill or “authenticity,” but editing became an intrinsic part of the creative process, enabling more experimentation and refinement.
Photographers use editing to express vision, not to “cheat” the art form—just as writers can use AI as a brainstorming partner, not a replacement.

Creative Collaboration, Not Replacement

Like using digital tools for editing, using AI in writing is about amplifying creativity. It can accelerate mundane tasks (grammar fixes, idea expansions) and free up the author to focus on higher-level storytelling.
AI-generated photos or entirely AI-created books without human direction lack personal intent and distinctive voice, much like generic stock images versus crafted photographs.

The Continuing Need for Human Judgment

Market success and reader engagement still rely on unique style, fresh ideas, emotional depth, and authentic storytelling—a realm where human writers remain essential.
The best use for AI in creative fields is as a collaborator—one that expands options and efficiency but still leaves the final judgment and artistry to people.

In summary, strong authorship shines brighter—not weaker—when using AI as a tool. Just as digital photography elevated rather than destroyed photographic artistry, AI will most often enhance, not erase, the skills that great writers bring to their work.

So I continued the discussion with Perplexity.ai

And I said:

“I also feel that some stalwarts think that technologies, such as AI LLMs, will destroy creativity. But if everyone believed this, humans would never have progressed beyond the Stone Age. Did the soot-spitters feel put out when someone discovered they could use a burnt stick to write on a cave wall? Were the cave artists upset when paper was made? Did charcoal artists shout obscenities when felt-tip pens became a thing? The idea is to look ahead and think creatively about the tools available, and not look back and live in the past. Rather than fearing change, think about how to use it. Never let go of the past, you have to know where you’ve been. But the future will change.”

And the AI responded:

The creative anxieties provoked by AI LLMs echo a cycle: every major technological leap has drawn fear, resistance, and ultimately emerged as a new frontier for artistic possibility. The critics once worried that photography, then printing, then digital art, would erase the depth and originality of handmade expression. Yet each innovation broadened creative options and eventually found its place alongside older forms.journal.everypixel+3

Fear Versus Progress

Artists have always grappled with technological change: portraitists worried photography would kill painting, some charcoal artists grumbled when markers and pens appeared, and cave artists themselves adapted when paper emerged.silverwraith+1
History shows that initial fears rarely materialize as predicted. Rather than destroying creativity, new tools open new possibilities and prompt artists to redefine their craft in fresh ways.journal.everypixel+1

Creative Tool Evolution

Innovative tools compress the time to learn techniques and free creators to reach higher forms of individual expression.jason-grey
The most inventive periods—like Impressionism post-photography, or mixed-media after computers—arose when artists embraced change and experimented rather than clinging solely to tradition.aaronhertzmann+2

Embracing the Future

Successful creators use new tools as springboards, not crutches. AI can help with idea generation, speed up repetitive processes, or add enhancements, but it doesn’t replace the vision and refinement behind a true oeuvre.pinotspalette+1
Knowing the past is essential; tradition informs craft. But the future belongs to those willing to adapt, combine new and old, and approach technology as another palette—not a threat.britishcouncil+2

The lesson through centuries of artistic change is clear: creative growth hinges on openness, adaptability, and using new tools thoughtfully to push boundaries rather than remaining trapped by nostalgia.britishcouncil+2

And as you can see from the 20+ referecnes, many people feel the same!

Essentially, I think a lot of people fear change, until it sweeps them up, or they are left stranded in the past.