AI has young writers between a rock and a hard place

Buzzwords, clichéd phrases, formulaic sentences, and most notoriously—the use of the em dash. These are all signs readers and writers alike have learned to look out for when trying to spot whether something was written by AI. Authors and journalists have faced the brunt of this trend, with accusations of AI use increasing as AI becomes more normalized. Tools can sniff out artificial intelligence, but they can be imperfect and unreliable. Between discouraging allegations and increased scrutiny over common writing practices, young writers are beginning to lose motivation, even as their level of AI adoption may vary. According to the Society of Authors, 20% of fiction writers and 25% of nonfiction writers stated that they use AI. But 65% of fiction writers and 57% of nonfiction writers believe AI will hurt their future income from their creative work. Alex Del Cueto, a recent college graduate who is an arts journalist at Broadway World, a theatre news website, says he’s concerned about entering the workforce during the rise of AI. “I feel like the rise of AI and its effects [have] made being a young journalist almost impossible,” he says. The growing use of the technology has complic…