I want to talk about generative AI this month (and probably next month too). If you didn’t already know, I’ve been working my day job in the tech sector for 20 years. I’m definitely a technology enthusiast, although generally not an early adopter (unless it’s free). So, I’ve been wanting to address gen AI for a while, but I’ve been hesitant because of just how divisive it is. But the time has come!

The Elephant in the Digital Room

Let me start with the uncomfortable truth: as a self-published author, I know that I’m directly in the crosshairs of AI development whether I like it or not. The marketplaces I sell in are already flooded with what we might politely call “low-effort content” (read AI slop). Would I have been happier if gen AI had never been invented? Quite possibly.

But here’s the reality check – the genie isn’t going back in the bottle, no matter how many strongly-worded forum posts we write. Besides, the fact that new technology creates new problems is nothing new. The solution isn’t to hope that the technology gets banned; it’s to figure out how to fix the problems with improvements, responsible usage, and actual regulations that make sense.

That’s my philosophy. Not because I’m some AI evangelist, but because ignoring reality has never been a winning strategy.

Now let’s look at the bright side.

How I Actually Use These Tools

So what does “responsible usage” look like for me? Here are some examples:

Marketing Content: I have not mastered Facebook ads, but they seem to be necessary evil #47 in the self-publishing world. AI helps me generate multiple versions of ad copy to test, which saves time and heartache. I also used Gemini to generate the image above for this newsletter. 😅 It’s not about creating heartfelt art – it’s helping with and enhancing the business grunt work.

TTRPG Session Summaries: After my group’s four-hour marathon sessions, I used to spend a few hours trying to remember what actually happened versus what we joked about, then tried to compose a summary of the game to remind us where we left off, and so that we can revisit our games for fun. I’ve published some of these on my website, if you’re curious. In the last few months, my approach has been to feed a transcript to AI to get a clean summary in minutes. It takes tweaking, but it works well. It’s not developing new creative content – it’s just organizing information that already exists. Think of it as a very patient secretary who never rolls their eyes when I ask them to explain what happened with that weird subplot involving the sentient cheese wheel.

Creative Brainstorming: When I’m stuck on a game mechanic or need to explore different approaches to a world-building problem, AI makes for a decent brainstorming partner. It doesn’t come up with brilliant ideas (let’s be honest), but it’s great at helping me explore ideas instead of staring at the dreaded blank page. It’s like having a writing buddy who never gets tired and doesn’t judge your terrible first drafts.

The key thing here is that these tools are augmenting work I’m already doing, not replacing the creative heart of it. It helps with the administrative stuff so I can focus on the parts that I actually enjoy.

Where I Draw the Line

Here’s where I get picky (and where some of you might breathe a sigh of relief): money changes everything. For my upcoming Kickstarter for The World of Kiynan – and for any other product I intend to sell – I’ve made the deliberate choice to use only human-created text and art. I’ve become a supporter of Dean Spencer on Patreon, and I’m actively seeking out other artists to collaborate with for paid products.

Do I use AI-generated images for Facebook ads or free content I give away? Sometimes, sure. Those feel different to me – they’re marketing materials or freebies, not a product someone is paying for. I’m not even saving money that I would have paid to a human, because I didn’t have that budget to begin with. But when I’m asking people to spend their hard-earned money on something, they deserve to know they’re getting human creativity and craftsmanship.

It’s partly about value and partly about ethics. When someone backs my Kickstarter or buys one of my books, they’re not just purchasing a product – they’re supporting my work as a creator and the artists I collaborate with. That feels like it should involve actual humans doing the creating, whether it’s me writing the text or talented artists bringing the worlds to life visually.

Plus, let’s be practical: our community’s creators are already getting squeezed from multiple directions. The least I can do is put my money where my mouth is and make sure that when people support my work, that support flows to other human creators too.

Moving Forward

I’m not here to convince anyone that AI is great or terrible. It just is, and I refuse to be left behind. What I am committed to is using these tools fairly and ethically, to the best of my understanding. I also think it is imperative to be transparent about how I use these tools, which is largely what this update is about. You deserve to know what you’re supporting.

I’m also committed to continuing to support human creators. The goal isn’t to replace human creativity – it’s to complement it and handle the boring stuff so there’s more time and energy for the creative work that actually matters.

And honestly? The most important thing hasn’t changed: I’m still here to create great stories and gaming content that helps people escape and have fun.

What’s your take on gen AI? What guidelines have you set for yourself?

I think I’ll return to this topic next month, including a bit about how this whole experience has been surprisingly useful in my day job too. But for now, I just wanted to put all this on the table. Thanks for reading, and as always, thanks for your continued interest and support.

Take care!