This week’s question comes from Alisa R. in Garden City, NY:

How do you enforce your AI policy?

For reference, Alisa means this AI policy.

Hard question. For prose, it’s easy. I’m writing the books, and I have no interest in experimenting with generative AI. I don’t even like typing in programs that auto-grammar check or offer “suggestions,” since I think they’re all distracting garbage. I work in a bare word processor like the Luddite curmudgeon that I am.

For artwork it’s a little harder. In the agreements HTP contractors sign, they all rep and warrant that generative AI was not used at any point in the creation of their work. This might sound a bit like the honor system, but it at least has some legal teeth. If I determine that AI is being used on a work-made-for-hire, I’m empowered to terminate the contract and claw back payments. Since most AI art looks like complete slop, it’s pretty easy to identify. AI also leaves plenty of telltale artifacts that I’ve educated myself to look for in submitted work.

But the technology is getting better, and there are plenty of talented digital artists out there who do so much work in post that it’s very difficult to tell that the initial draft was created using generative AI. I do the best I can to vet HTP contractors, and I never extend offers to artists who publicize AI work. If their portfolios include AI generated art, then they aren’t the right artist for HTP. 

It’s an imperfect system and it’s only likely to get less perfect as the technology progresses, but I’m confident no AI has slipped into any of our books yet. 

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