The article from WIRED discusses the increasing use of AI writing tools among some of the most popular newsletters on Substack, a platform that allows writers to monetize their subscriptions. An analysis by the AI-detection startup GPTZero revealed that around 10 of the top 100 newsletters utilize AI in their content creation, with seven relying on it significantly. Most of the identified newsletters focus on investment and personal finance content, indicating a trend where large audiences may be consuming AI-generated or AI-assisted content. While some writers view AI as a productivity tool that assists with editing and drafting, Substack does not enforce strict policies against AI use, recognizing its potential utility. As the trend grows, initiatives like GPTZero’s “certified human” badge may emerge to help consumers differentiate between AI-assisted and purely human-created content.

Key Points:

• Popular Substack writers can earn up to seven figures through subscriptions.
• GPTZero analyzed the top 100 newsletters and found a significant presence of AI-generated content.
• Ten newsletters reportedly use AI, with seven significantly reliant on it.
• Many identified newsletters focus on investment and personal finance topics.
• Substack does not have an official policy governing AI use, emphasizing its constructive applications.
• Writers tend to use AI for polishing and efficiency, rather than for generating entire pieces.
• Comparatively, Substack uses less AI-generated content than other platforms like Medium.
• The potential introduction of "certified human" badges for content may address consumer concerns about AI usage in writing.
  Link to Article