The Actual Use of Generative AI in Online Literary Production: An Exploratory Study with Lusophone Writers on Wattpad

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) has become one of the most controversial topics in literary production. There have already been several reflections in this area, but more remains to be known about the actual use of Generative AI in online literary production. Therefore, this exploratory study, based on the responses provided by a sample of users of the Wattpad platform, aims to contribute to the knowledge of the self-consciousness modes of application, as well as perspectives about Generative AI in online fiction production. We tested two major hypotheses: i) the use of AI provides more consciousness of future injustices, and ii) the concerns about plagiarism clarify the capacity of AI contribution to literary production. The collected data were then analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The main results show that writers are generally self-aware about the use of Generative AI, and authors with greater ethical concern assume a lower propensity to use Generative AI in content production.