Fanfiction in the Age of AI: Community Perspectives on Creativity, Authenticity and Adoption

TL;DR

This study explores fanfiction community members' perceptions of AI-generated content, revealing mixed feelings about its impact on creativity, authenticity, and social bonds, and emphasizing the need for ethical AI integration.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into fanfiction communities' attitudes towards AI, highlighting community-driven concerns and proposing design strategies for ethical AI adoption.

Findings

Community members are cautiously accepting AI's creative potential.

Concerns about authenticity and ethical issues are prevalent.

Transparency and social connection are vital for ethical AI integration.

Abstract

The integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into creative communities, like fanfiction, is reshaping how stories are created, shared, and valued. This study investigates the perceptions of 157 active fanfiction members, both readers and writers, regarding AI-generated content in fanfiction. Our research explores the impact of GenAI on community dynamics, examining how AI affects the participatory and collaborative nature of these spaces. The findings reveal responses ranging from cautious acceptance of AI's potential for creative enhancement to concerns about authenticity, ethical issues, and the erosion of human-centered values. Participants emphasized the importance of transparency and expressed worries about losing social connections. Our study highlights the need for thoughtful AI integration in creative platforms using design interventions that enable ethical practices, promote transparency, increase engagement and connection, and preserve the community's core values.