Summary

The author is disillusioned with Medium due to the influx of AI-generated content and the platform's apparent tolerance of it, which undermines genuine human writing and storytelling.

Abstract

The author expresses frustration with Medium's growing problem of AI-generated content, particularly from users who leverage AI like Chat GPT to produce articles for financial gain. Despite daily writing, the author's earnings are minimal, and their work is overshadowed by the algorithmic promotion of AI content. The author notes that AI-generated articles often start with declarative sentences and follow a predictable pattern, which makes them identifiable. They lament the loss of Medium as a platform for authentic human stories and call for readers to recognize and avoid AI-generated content to preserve the integrity of the platform for real writers and engaged readers.

Opinions

The author believes that Medium's value as a platform for genuine human stories is being eroded by the proliferation of AI-generated content.
They are critical of the financial incentive driving some users to produce AI content, which they refer to as "mercenaries."
The author feels that their own writing efforts are not adequately rewarded or recognized due to an unfavorable Medium algorithm.
They suggest that Medium could and should implement measures to identify and possibly restrict AI-generated content, similar to tools used in educational settings.
The author is grateful for their actual readers and subscribers but is considering leaving Medium if the issue of AI content is not addressed.
They argue that real, human-written articles can be distinguished by personalized opening paragraphs and a lack of the formulaic structure typical of AI writing.

I Can Tell When You Use Chat GPT

And I Won’t Subscribe to Your Accounts

Medium continues to have a problem with AI and I’m not sure how much longer I’m willing to write here because of it.

I mean, after all, isn’t this supposed to be a place where real humans write real stories with real emotions? Well, it was.

We’ve always had to bear the “How I Got My First 2,000 Subscribers” articles from the various mercenaries that populate this platform. But now, it’s clear that the people who only care about money are taking over and using AI like Chat GPT to crank out crap.

I’ve been writing every damn day for the last month and made a whopping $18.63 for a months worth of writing. Hardly worth the effort especially looking at how few people are ever exposed to my writing. And I know I’m not the only one.

I’ve been caught in some kind of unfavorable Medium algorithm and it seems my efforts will always fall short. I’m very grateful for everyone who reads my work and I hope they get something out of if.

But too many of my subscribers are AI mercenaries who crank out clickbait. I know I said that if you subscribed to me, I would return the favor but this avalanche of computer-generated crap is just too much.

So how can you tell if something is AI generated?

It’s the way the articles start. Anyone who has used Chat GPT for research, advice or resume help can get the rhythm of how the stories start.

Here are the telltale signs. Look for opening declarative sentences:

Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant traction in recent years . . .

If you want to encourage YouTube subscribers to write a new article, here are a few steps you could take . . .

In a digital landscape saturated with content, it can be challenging to stand out and capture the attention of online audiences. . .

Chat GPT starts with declarative sentences and generally starts a list of examples of the subject. Here are some examples from things I have asked Chat GPT to explain to me. You begin to see a pattern and recognize a rhythm:

On tinnitus:

Tinnitus, often described as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears, can be a difficult condition to manage because it can be a symptom of many different underlying conditions. Thus, treatments often focus on addressing those conditions rather than the tinnitus directly. However, a variety of options are available, including (listicle):

Sound Therapy:

On fatty liver disease:

Fatty liver disease, which includes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a condition where excess fat is stored in your liver. Early stages often do not present any symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, it can cause significant damage to the liver, leading to conditions like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, or liver failure.

Signs that fatty liver disease may be advancing include:

Fatigue and Weakness:

You can also tell who is an AI writer by the way their profile is written and the generic fakey smiling face of the so-called “writer.”

After awhile it becomes easy to see the listicles written by Chat GPT. You would think that if there are programs teachers use to catch AI generated content, Medium can do it too.

But they won’t. Eyes on are all that seems to matter and if the AI content makes money for the platform, that’s all that matters.

Real articles written by real people begin with personalized lede paragraphs. Again, you can tell. They personalize what you are reading by relating it to an experience the author has had. They don’t read like a textbook or a list of instructions. There is a human factor you can pick up immediately.

Medium is gradually being flooded by people using AI writing as an easy side hustle. Just think up a subject — like my examples above — and ask Chat GPT a few questions and voila! There you go. Publish and cash in.

The only thing that flesh and blood readers and writers can do at this point is learn the signs of AI generated contact and not to follow these accounts. If this platform is going to be a place for real writers and engaged readers, something is going to need to be done about this issue or we’ll all land up on substack.