The views in this article represent the author's personal opinions and do not reflect those of Her Campus. This piece is penned by a student from the Her Campus at MSU chapter. Recently, while waiting for a creative writing meeting, I overheard a student discussing writer's block, stating, "I usually just get ChatGPT to fill in the rest because I’m lazy. " Though I’m aware many students use AI for schoolwork, I was puzzled by this casual reliance on AI to generate ideas. I later discovered that since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, artificial intelligence has sparked significant debate within the writing community. In a controversial, now-deleted statement on Sept. 1, 2024, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) acknowledged the classist and ableist implications of condemning AI, which triggered a backlash, resulting in some users deactivating their accounts. Critics pointed out that NaNoWriMo’s ties to ProWritingAid, which has incorporated generative AI, might have influenced their stance. In early 2023, Clarkesworld Magazine paused writing submissions due to an influx of AI-generated pieces, with editor Neil Clarke attributing this to opportunistic submissions.

I find it anti-art to claim AI work as one’s own, yet it clarifies why some might use ChatGPT. Curious about broader perspectives, I consulted creative writing professor Tim Conrad at MSU, who noted that students often misidentify AI-generated poetry due to preconceived notions. He emphasized the importance of tapping into human creativity, suggesting that the narrative behind a story matters when distinguishing it from AI-generated content. Conversely, Gwen Pratt, a senior on the pre-veterinary track who minors in fiction writing, sees value in AI, using it for refining prompts and generating ideas, similar to searching online. She believes that while AI can enhance the writing process, misuse can reduce quality. Ultimately, I remain opposed to using AI in writing and won’t participate in NaNoWriMo. However, this experience taught me valuable insights into the ongoing conversation about AI's role in the writing world, sparked by an overheard comment.