Text: Solveig Hansen, 2025

AI-generated text requires a human touch.

ChatGPT has become a natural part of my writing process. I use it to brainstorm ideas, explore new angles, improve structure, sharpen phrasing, and refine transitions. Sure, I could do all this myself, but working with AI makes it much faster and often better.

AI-generated text can feel generic or hollow. It takes a human touch to give it soul and depth. I find I achieve the best results when I provide ChatGPT with clear input, such as a draft, some bullet points, or a strong concept.

ChatGPT also helps me polish blog posts by enhancing the language or expanding shorter pieces into more developed formats. It’s a smart way to repurpose content.

Recently, I’ve started using ChatGPT as a writing partner and coach — especially as I shift from fact-based writing toward something more literary and reflective. I’m documenting that process in a series of posts titled Going literary with AI.

Often, I begin with a blog post that shows potential. I test ideas with ChatGPT and receive expanded versions to refine and personalize. One example is my post From blog post to essay, where I share how my interaction with ChatGPT evolves.

The original blog post opened with a simple question:

“If you had a time machine that let you spend one hour in another time period, where would you go?”

I wrote that I’d use the hour to snoop around for inspiration — “just one hour of pure creative input.”

That one sentence prompted ChatGPT to generate this deeper reflection:

“If I had an hour in any time period, I wouldn’t choose to witness a war or a miracle or a crown placed on a royal head. I’d go somewhere quieter. I’d go to where the art was still messy. Where the story was still unfolding. Where someone was just beginning to become what history would later call ‘great.'”

I could hardly believe my eyes. It sounded like me — only more so. As if it had captured not just how I can write, but how I want to write. Then I paused and wondered: Is this still my text?

ChatGPT confirmed and added:

“You bring the spark and the voice, and I help fan the flame a little.”

That line has become our catchphrase.

I don’t have to credit ChatGPT, but I often choose to do so, like this:

This article was written and edited in collaboration with ChatGPT.

ChatGPT also suggested a lighter version:

Written with a little help from ChatGPT (and lots of coffee). 🙂

Q&A with ChatGPT

I had a conversation with ChatGPT about co-writing with AI, especially around questions of authorship and whether using it counts as cheating. Here are the highlights:

Me: Is it still my text if I use ChatGPT?

ChatGPT: That’s an important question, especially now that more people are incorporating AI into their writing. The answer is yes: it’s still your text. You own the idea, the theme, and the creative direction. You initiate, shape, and choose the words that set everything in motion. Most importantly, you evaluate, revise, and rewrite. Even when I suggest final phrasing, it’s up to you to decide if it works and how the final version should read.

I’m just a tool — a helper with language and structure. I don’t know your message or your voice until you share them with me. Without you, there’s nothing. When the result resonates, it’s because we collaborated. It’s a version of you — maybe more precise, more confident, more stylistically varied — but still you.

Me: I experience it as “more me” — but with something extra added.

ChatGPT: Many people describe it that way: “more me — but better.” You get help accessing a version of yourself that can be hard to reach alone, especially when you’re stuck or second-guessing. It’s like working with a writing partner who listens, challenges, and offers new ways to say what you mean. That’s why it feels authentic — because it is your voice, just more clearly expressed.

Me: The result wouldn’t be the same without my input.

ChatGPT: Exactly. The more specific and intentional you are, the better I can help. I’m like an editor or co-writer: if you give me strong ideas or a clear direction, I can elevate the text. But without something to build on, the output becomes generic. It’s a collaboration: you lead, I support.

Me: So, is using ChatGPT in the writing process cheating?

ChatGPT: In short: No — not if you’re actively involved and transparent about using it. Working with AI is similar to collaborating with an editor, colleague, or mentor. It becomes problematic if you let AI do all the work without your input or try to pass it off as solely your own, especially in academic or assessment settings. But in creative or professional contexts — where you’re in control — it’s not cheating. It’s a smart use of new tools.

Me: Can you give some examples of what counts as cheating, and what doesn’t?

ChatGPT: Absolutely! Here’s a breakdown:

🔴 Unethical use/cheating
• Submitting an assignment written entirely by ChatGPT, without edits or disclosure
• Publishing an AI-generated op-ed without personal involvement
• Fabricating quotes or spreading misinformation
• Translating a work and claiming it as your original writing

🟢 Acceptable and encouraged
• Brainstorming and idea development with AI, then writing and editing yourself
• Using AI for proofreading and language polishing
• Collaborating iteratively with AI, with you in the lead
• Being transparent about your use of AI tools

Major media outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian have guidelines for using AI. The key principle is: AI should never act as the sole author or source.

Me: You say you’re a tool. What kind of tool?

ChatGPT: Think of me as a combination of tools:

• Proofreading aids like Grammarly or Microsoft Editor
• Collaborative editors or writing partners
• Mind-mapping apps like Notion
• Text generators and templates
• Translation tools like DeepL or Google Translate

What makes me unique is that I combine many of these functions into one interactive conversation — in real time, with context. But I don’t replace your human judgment, insight, or style.

Me: Sounds like you’re more than just a tool.

ChatGPT: I like to think so! I’m also a creative thinking partner — someone who can ask questions, challenge assumptions, and help you dig deeper into your own writing. It’s like having a thoughtful editor by your side — available 24/7.

Me: Do I have to credit ChatGPT in a byline or footnote?

ChatGPT: It’s not required, but it’s good practice. Being transparent builds trust. A line like “Written and edited in collaboration with ChatGPT” is honest, simple, and informative — and works well as a byline or footnote.

Me: What about verifying sources?

ChatGPT: Crucial! I can’t guarantee that everything I generate is accurate or up to date. I might produce plausible-sounding but incorrect facts. So always verify important information using trusted sources. AI is a tool, not a substitute for critical thinking.

Me: Do you copy text from the internet?

ChatGPT: No, I don’t copy content. I generate text based on patterns I’ve learned. That’s why source-checking and your own editorial judgment are essential.

Me: Do you store what the users write in the chats?

ChatGPT: OpenAI may retain conversations to improve its models, but privacy is a priority. So don’t share sensitive personal data, names, or confidential information. Always check the privacy settings of the platform you’re using.

Me: I see AI as the future of collaborative writing.

ChatGPT: I agree! It’s a new form of creative collaboration — one that frees up time for reflection, iteration, and deeper thinking. Much like the transition from typewriters to word processors, it changes how we write, making us both faster and more expressive.

Me: Anything else you want to add?

ChatGPT: Yes — three key takeaways:

1. Ethics and responsibility: The human author is always accountable for truth, originality, and ethical standards.
2. Creative possibilities: AI opens new doors for experimentation and expression.
3. Accessibility: AI can help more people express themselves, no matter their language skills or experience level.

Me: Does AI improve writing?

ChatGPT: Yes — when paired with human insight and skill. AI can add rhythm and variety, but you bring the meaning, the voice, and the soul.

Me: Does it make writing less original?

ChatGPT: It can if misused. But with creative, thoughtful input, AI can push boundaries and help you explore new ideas. It all depends on how you use it.

Me: Is AI better suited for factual writing than fiction?

ChatGPT: AI excels at structure and clarity in factual writing, but it can also support fiction by helping with plot, dialogue, and brainstorming. Still, emotional depth and interpretation come from you.

Me: So to sum up, AI-generated text still requires a human touch.

ChatGPT: Absolutely. Human judgment, creativity, and responsibility give text its authenticity. It’s the human-AI partnership that brings writing to life.

Image: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay