As NaNoWriMo, an organized novel-writing challenge, prepares to turn 25 in November, the addition of a new AI sponsor and tools have stirred up controversy for the nonprofit organization that organizes the event.
Originally an abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo launched in 1999 to encourage anyone to try to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. The pursuit is now global. Participants chart their progress on the official website, earning virtual badges for achieving milestones -- some as simple as just starting a project.
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Since generative AI tools have proliferated, the question of whether artificial intelligence should be used in creative projects like books, movies and music continues to be debated. In October, authors of 183,000 books learned that their titles had been used to train artificial intelligence systems without their knowledge. There have also been divergent opinions on whether AI-assisted endeavors should qualify for traditional performance awards such as the Grammys.
Novel challenge is OK with writers using AI
The controversy seems to have started on Sept. 2, with a post from the group that read, "NaNoWriMo does not explicitly support any specific approach to writing, nor does it explicitly condemn any approach, including the use of AI."
The group went on to acknowledge that some writers "stand staunchly against AI for themselves," but added, "we believe that to categorically condemn AI would be to ignore classist and ableist issues surrounding the use of the technology, and that questions around the use of AI tie to questions around privilege.
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AI sponsorship revealed
The ProWritingAid sponsorship was revealed in a resignation letter titled NaNoHellNo posted by Daniel José Older, who served on the NaNoWriMo Writers Board.
"Your position on AI is vile, craven and unconscionable," he wrote in the letter. "You are harming writers and you are harming the planet."
The sponsor didn't know about the statement before it was issued, a representative said.
"ProWritingAid has supported NaNoWriMo for many years, and we were completely unaware they were going to make this statement," company founder and CEO Chris Banks told CNET. "We fundamentally disagree with the sentiment that criticism of AI tools in inherently ableist or classist. We believe that writers' concerns about the role of AI are valid and deserve thoughtful consideration. Writers are the reason ProWritingAid exists, and we are committed to supporting human creativity, not undermining it."
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A representative for NaNoWriMo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Since the controversy began to spread, the group has since updated its online statement. The newer version addresses some criticism of AI, mentioning "bad actors in the AI space who are doing harm to writers and who are acting unethically."
The group went on to say that it still found "categorical condemnation" of AI to be problematic, but that it was "troubled by situational abuse of AI, and that certain situational abuses clearly conflict with our values."
In addition to the November contest, NaNoWriMo runs a year-round Young Writers Program for students and educators. The site offers writing resources and tools, and a community component allows users to follow and support other writers.
Most who start writing for NaNoWriMo don't complete a novel in one month's time, but many take on the challenge. In 2015, then-CNET editor Eric Mack crowdsourced advice to write a sci-fi novel for NaNoWriMo. The 2006 Sara Gruen bestseller Water For Elephants, which became a movie and a Broadway musical, began as a NaNoWriMo book.