Substack has unveiled a significant new feature designed to inform users when their preferred newsletters incorporate artificial intelligence in their creation.
Earlier this week, the popular newsletter and writing platform announced its integration with Pangram, an AI writing detection software. This collaboration empowers users to scan posts, comments, and replies within the Substack app, providing an estimated breakdown of content authorship between human and AI contributions.
While this initiative could present short-term challenges for Substack's business by potentially revealing the extent of AI-generated content within its ecosystem, it also risks undermining trust in its network of independent news and blogs, and could even impact its reputation for hosting high-quality, human-authored material.
However, from a long-term perspective, such AI detection capabilities are poised to safeguard Substack from what some term "AI slop." By doing so, they aim to foster greater user confidence in the authenticity of what they read, or at least provide clearer insight into when content has been AI-assisted.
Substack's move aligns with a growing industry trend where platforms are increasingly opting to label AI-generated content, particularly as artificial intelligence plays a more prominent role in creative processes. Similar practices are already in place on social media sites for AI-generated photos and videos, while music streaming services have recently begun labeling, and in some instances penalizing, AI-created music.
“This is good use of AI,” stated Substack CEO Chris Best, emphasizing the positive application of this technology.
In an online discussion with Pangram's founder, Max Spero, Best elaborated on his vision: “When I used to pitch Substack to writers, one way I would do it is […] we’ll do everything for you except the hard part. You have to have something — an idea that’s worth reading, that’s worth caring about, that’s worth sharing. That one thing is very hard and very valuable […] software should do everything else, but I think you do want the person to do the hard part.”
This new feature will be accessible within the Substack app for any post, note, reply, or comment exceeding 100 characters. Furthermore, Substack will offer writers an optional "AI Author’s note," enabling creators to transparently disclose their use of AI, as confirmed by the company to TechCrunch.
The company clarified that the tool's primary purpose is not to prohibit or penalize AI-assisted writing. Instead, it aims to encourage writers to include a "how I make this" statement, providing readers with insight into their creative and production process.
Additionally, publishers will have the ability to run Pangram scans on their drafts before publication and can report and remove scan results on their own work if they believe them to be inaccurate.
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