The hottest AI writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Surf's Up in Slop City

Counter Craft • 1320 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
đź“š Literature AI writing
  1. Traditional book coverage and cultural institutions are shrinking, so it’s getting much harder for authors to earn reviews and be discovered through the old channels.
  2. A flood of cheap, AI-generated low-quality books is pouring into marketplaces and submission pipelines, which can drown discovery and overwhelm editors, agents, and readers.
  3. Authors need to adapt by building their own platforms and communities and by emphasizing human authorship, distinctive voice, and craft to stand out from the slop.

The Biography Bots are Back

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 615 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
đź“š Literature AI writing
  1. Authors often check their names online to manage their reputation and prevent other products from hijacking their name. It's important for them to stay aware, especially around book release dates.
  2. AI-created biographies often contain inaccuracies and may read like generic content. Many times, they lack the personal touch and detail that a real biography should have.
  3. Despite the rise of AI, there's still a significant difference in quality between AI and human-written works. Original and creative writers can still stand out and have value that AI can't replicate.

How to Humanize Your AI Writing in 10 Steps

The Algorithmic Bridge • 594 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology AI writing
  1. Use a short sequence of targeted edits—fix punchline em dashes, cut unnecessary juxtapositions and triads, replace abstractions with concrete sensory details, add a bit of conflict or oddness, remove forced callbacks, and stop overexplaining—to make AI prose feel human.
  2. Add the human moves AI can’t reliably do: bring subtle taste, irony, precise subtext, and surprising specific choices; those touches usually require your judgment to lift the writing beyond competent AI output.
  3. Work iteratively with targeted prompts—either step-by-step or an all-in-one prompt—check changelogs, and revise by eye; this yields big gains but not instant mastery, so trust your judgment and keep polishing.

10 Signs of AI Writing That 99% of People Miss

The Algorithmic Bridge • 1836 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology AI writing
  1. AI writing often uses vague and abstract words instead of concrete details. This makes it feel less relatable and real, unlike human writing that includes specific experiences.
  2. The choice of words in AI writing tends to be bland and overly formal. It avoids strong emotions and edgy language, which can make the text feel lifeless.
  3. AI lacks genuine sensory experiences, leading to descriptions that seem disconnected from reality. It can mention feelings or sensations but lacks true understanding of them.

I Liked the Essay. Then I Found Out It Was AI

The Algorithmic Bridge • 838 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture AI writing
  1. AI-generated writing makes it hard to know where words come from, eroding the cultural and experiential roots that give language real meaning.
  2. People can still enjoy AI-produced pieces, but learning they were made by AI often changes how those works are judged and whether they are curated or accepted.
  3. Widespread AI use accelerates cultural uprooting and a race-to-the-bottom in speed and cost, so we must first recognize this reality and then decide whether to resist, regulate, or preserve human-rooted practices.
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Medium’s NEW Rules for AI-Generated Writing - Good or Bad?

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 599 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
đź•ą Technology AI writing
  1. Medium is changing its rules to limit AI-generated writing. Starting May 2024, stories mostly written by AI can't be part of the paid program.
  2. Writers can still use AI tools to help their writing, but they need to put in their own effort to make changes and improvements.
  3. Medium's goal is to support human storytelling and ensure that readers get authentic experiences, which means protecting writers from AI competition.

How my son got in to Duke

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 599 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🚌 Education AI writing
  1. Focus on self-directed learning and unique experiences rather than typical benchmarks like SAT scores.
  2. When writing, be specific and share personal experiences to create content that AI cannot replicate.
  3. Homeschooling can give students the opportunity to stand out in college applications by being remarkable and avoiding common educational norms.

Writing as academic practice in an time of Generative AI

imperfect offerings • 99 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🚌 Education AI writing
  1. Educators question the role of generative AI in student writing assignments, suggesting alternative tasks like critical evaluation of AI-generated text.
  2. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are a part of a timeline that includes various writing tools like spell checkers and translation engines, impacting writing practices of students and academics.
  3. Students and educators should focus on accountable writing tasks that center aspects that AI technology may struggle with, such as developing original ideas, understanding audiences, and negotiating perspectives.

AI Writing is Morally Superior

From the New World • 75 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
đź•ą Technology AI writing
  1. AI writing is changing the landscape of writing by making it more accessible. This means more people can share their ideas without needing the same level of skill as traditional writers.
  2. The criticism against AI writing often comes from writers who feel threatened. They think that AI takes away the uniqueness of human style, but many believe it actually helps get good ideas out to more people.
  3. AI can help present complex ideas in simpler ways. This could be beneficial, allowing more people to understand important truths that might be lost in fancy language.

My writing robot

Kyle Chayka Industries • 127 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
đź•ą Technology AI writing
  1. Artificial intelligence is becoming more integrated into our lives, used for tasks like writing and answering questions.
  2. AI tools can mimic a person's style but struggle to create original content or meaningful arguments.
  3. Working with AI for writing may not be as efficient or satisfying, especially for deep thinking and knowledge synthesis.