The Story Behind the Story
Why did I write it?
There was a period where I stuck my head in the sand about AI. It obviously has a lot of potential, but I was also afraid of it. There have been so many books and articles written about it, and new AI tools and updates seem to emerge daily. It’s a bit overwhelming. Many of the prognosticators predict doom and gloom for humanity while others imagine a utopia where we are all happy doing incredible things with AI. The truth is no one on earth knows what will happen, but we should start considering all possible futures so we can ensure the outcome with AI is a good one.
Why are you using AI to help write it?
It is an experiment. Proponents say AI is a tool like any other tool. Take movies as an example. Technology has progressed quite a bit and has allowed us to create stories and worlds that would not have been possible years ago (e.g., Toy Story, Jurassic Park). Opponents of AI believe this technology is different because it replaces our creativity. Who wants a machine telling them a story or influencing them? I’ve been struggling with this debate, so I decided to write this story while using AI to help come to my own conclusion.
How much are you writing vs. AI?
My goal is to keep it 50/50 as much as possible. The prompts I’m writing are pretty detailed and I’m loosely watching how many words my instructions are vs what AI presents. My prompts lay out character descriptions, motivations, feelings, and the conflict I want to occur. Sometimes, I even include bits of dialogue. After the AI writes a chapter, I write further prompts to enhance certain sections or add entirely new elements of dramatic conflict.
Will you share your final thoughts on AI?
Yes. I’ll add my experiences from time to time as the story unfolds, but my goal is not to convince people that my opinion is right. I’m simply offering a story of one path AI might take us down. My hope is for it be balanced, but it will inevitably have a point of view. Readers should draw their own conclusions.