Are readers generating fiction with AI models? (arxiv.org)

A recent study analyzing over 500,000 anonymized conversations from ChatGPT users reveals a significant trend: more than one-third of users engage in AI-assisted fiction generation. This includes diverse forms such as original stories, roleplay, fanfiction, and erotica, with a notable concentration among "power users" who frequently request similar narratives. The findings suggest a shift in the traditional author-reader dynamic, potentially creating a new archetype—the "solipsistic reader-writer"—who generates and consumes stories primarily through interactive conversations with AI. This development raises important questions for the AI/ML community and the broader storytelling landscape. The increasing interest in AI-generated fiction reflects users' preference for personalized, immediate content and highlights structural affinities with contemporary cultural phenomena like self-publishing and fanfiction. As AI technologies enable new forms of interactivity and narrative exploration, they pose fascinating implications for the future of literature and media, inviting deeper discussions about creativity, authorship, and the evolving role of AI in entertainment.