Neil Clarke the big boss at Clarkesworld a magazine full of cool science fiction and fantasy stories recently shared something pretty worrying on Twitter. He showed a bar graph that looked like a skyscraper and not in a good way.

This graph showed a huge jump in the number of stories they're getting that are either copied from somewhere else or just spam and a lot of them are made by AI – you know like robots writing stories.

This problem isn't new but it's getting bigger. Clarke says that there are people out there who are trying to make a quick buck by using AI tools like ChatGPT to write stories.

But here's the thing: these people aren't the kind of writers who spend hours dreaming up amazing sci-fi worlds. They're more like shortcut-takers trying to game the system. Clarke is pretty clear about it – he doesn't think what they're doing is going to fly.

Because of all this Clarkesworld had to hit the pause button on accepting new stories. It's like they're saying "Time out! We need to figure this out." It's a big deal because it's not just about a bunch of fake stories; it's about keeping the magic of real human storytelling alive.

Clarke's tweet has got a lot of people talking online wondering how we can keep the robots from taking over the creative stuff that humans are so good at.

The Challenge for Sci-Fi Publishers

Clarkesworld like many other science fiction and fantasy magazines has traditionally accepted submissions year-round without charging any fees. This open approach aligns with the sci-fi community's dedication to Yog's Law which states that "Money should flow toward the author." However combating AI-generated spam requires more than just adding barriers to entry.

Clarke recognizes the need to reopen submissions but emphasizes that it will be a trial-and-error process. As a computer scientist himself he believes that managing AI-generated content is similar to battling malware or credit card fraud. It requires constant adaptation and finding ways to work in a world where such challenges exist.

Hopelessness and the Impact on Writers

The whole situation at Clarkesworld isn't just a big deal for sci-fi fans; it's got writers of all kinds talking. There's this growing worry that AI – like computers and robots making art – is going to take over. It's a bit like when you see a storm coming and you're not sure how bad it's going to be.

Recently the US Copyright Office said no to a comic book made by AI but that hasn't stopped people from worrying about what all this means for writers who already find it tough to make money.

Neil Clarke the guy in charge at Clarkesworld really gets why writers are worried. He sees the main problem as the flood of not-so-great stories that are piling up. It's like having a mailbox so stuffed with junk mail that you can't find the important letters. He feels for the writers who are trying their best and warns that some quick fixes publishers might use could end up hurting the real hardworking authors.

Clarke thinks we need to find a smart way to handle this. It's all about balancing things out – making sure the door stays open for talented writers but keeping out the low-effort stuff. It's a tricky situation like trying to keep your cake from burning while making sure it bakes just right. 

Different Challenges for Different Publications

Grimdark Magazine and Uncanny Magazine two prominent publications in the genre have also taken notice of the AI-generated content issue. Grimdark Magazine has temporarily halted submissions to assess the AI landscape while Uncanny Magazine is engaging in internal discussions. Meanwhile FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction faces unique challenges.

FIYAH's focus on publishing exclusively Black authors has already garnered attention from racist trolls seeking to invalidate the concept of authentic cultural voices.

While the magazine employs vetting processes to protect against such attacks the emergence of AI exploitation poses new risks. Filtering tools can help identify racially traumatizing content but the sophistication of AI makes it easier to slip through these defenses.

Assessing AI Impact on Publishers

Matthew Kressel who's a bit like a tech wizard in the world of science fiction and fantasy writing created Moksha. It's this super handy software that lots of magazines use to manage the stories they get. Now he's in the middle of a big conversation about stories written by AI – think of robots trying their hand at being authors.

Kressel says that in Moksha they haven't really seen a flood of AI-written stories. But he knows that some publishers might actually be cool with getting stories from AI. The tricky part is figuring out what counts as AI-written stuff and what to do when writers aren't honest about using AI.

Both Kressel and Neil Clarke the guy from Clarkesworld agree on something important: the tools we have right now to spot AI-created art aren't great. They're kind of hit-or-miss and they don't want to rely on them. They also really care about making sure all kinds of writers especially those who don't always get heard aren't left out. 

It's a tough balancing act. They want to keep out stories that don't have much effort put into them but also don't want to make it harder for new writers to get their chance. It's like trying to keep the garden gate open for everyone but making sure the pesky squirrels don't get in and cause chaos. They're thinking hard about how to do this right so everyone gets a fair shot.



The Financial Battle and Resilience

Amidst all the concerns surrounding AI-generated content Clarke highlights another pressing threat faced by science fiction and fantasy publishers. Amazon's decision to discontinue its magazine subscription program which accounts for a significant portion of many publishers' revenue is adding to the financial strain. This dual challenge has the potential to push publishers to the brink.

However Clarke maintains faith in the resilience of the sci-fi community. He acknowledges the ongoing struggle of finding readers willing to pay for short fiction but believes that the community will find ways to adapt and overcome these obstacles just as science fiction often portrays in its stories.

In the face of this battle between humans and AI writing machines sci-fi publishers are determined to maintain the integrity and quality of their publications. While the road ahead is uncertain their commitment to fostering diverse voices and embracing new challenges will shape the future of science fiction storytelling.