Transparency with AI

Lightning Shadow Crossroads and its publishing imprint, Mjolnir Press, believe that the evolving role of artificial intelligence in creative work requires two things above all else: transparency and choice.

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Our position is not that every creator must make the same choices regarding artificial intelligence. Our position is that creators should be able to make informed decisions about their own creative processes, while consumers should be given enough information to make informed decisions about the work they choose to support.

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We call these principles the Sovereign Creator and the Sovereign Consumer.

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Lightning Shadow Crossroads and Mjolnir Press do not use generative artificial intelligence to create original written content authored by the company or published under the Michael Grayson name.

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The ideas, experiences, arguments, narratives, and original prose presented as the work of Michael Grayson originate with the human author.

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Assistive AI may be incorporated into our workflow for limited purposes, including:

• Proofreading and grammatical review

• Editorial refinement and clarity review

• Organization and structural assistance

• Research assistance and information discovery

• Brainstorming and exploration

• Technical or administrative assistance

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Using technology to assist with the refinement, organization, or examination of human-created work is not the same as asking technology to originate that work and presenting the result as human authorship.

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When artificial intelligence materially contributes to the creation or presentation of a published work, we believe that contribution should be disclosed.

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Generative visual tools may be used for promotional materials, social media content, visual experimentation, brainstorming, or communicating artistic concepts.

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They may also be used to develop visual references that communicate an idea to a human artist, cover designer, or graphic designer.

 

For published books released by Lightning Shadow Crossroads or Mjolnir Press, generative AI imagery is not intended to replace commissioned human artists or designers in the creation of final published cover artwork.

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When generative AI imagery is used publicly in a meaningful context, we believe in being transparent about its use.

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We recognize that generative artificial intelligence raises particularly significant concerns within fiction and other creative communities, including concerns surrounding human creativity, attribution, training data, compensation, and the livelihoods of writers and artists.

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For that reason, Lightning Shadow Crossroads and Mjolnir Press have established a firm boundary for fiction published under the Michael Grayson name: We will not publish fiction under Michael Grayson in which artificial intelligence has been used in any capacity in the creation of the work.

 

This is a standard we have chosen for our own publishing activities. It is not a demand that every independent author, publisher, or creative professional adopt the same standard.

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A Sovereign Creator has the right to determine whether and how artificial intelligence is incorporated into their creative process.

That decision belongs to the creator.

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Some creators will reject artificial intelligence entirely. Others may use it for proofreading, research, brainstorming, accessibility, visual development, or other forms of assistance. Still others may choose to incorporate generative technology more extensively.

Lightning Shadow Crossroads supports the right of creators to make those decisions for themselves—including the decision not to use AI at all.

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With that freedom comes a responsibility we consider equally important: Transparency.

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When AI has meaningfully contributed to a work, audiences should not have to guess about its involvement.

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A Sovereign Consumer has an equally important right to decide what they are willing to purchase, read, view, recommend, or otherwise support.

• One reader may reject any work involving artificial intelligence.

• Another may accept assistive AI but reject generative writing.

• Another may have no objection to either.

• Those decisions belong to the consumer.

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Our responsibility is not to make that decision for them. Our responsibility is to provide meaningful transparency so they can make it for themselves.

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The creator chooses. The consumer chooses. Transparency makes both choices sovereign.

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Artificial intelligence is a rapidly developing technology, and reasonable people will reach different conclusions about its appropriate role in creative work.

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Lightning Shadow Crossroads will not participate in harassment, threats, intimidation, or the demeaning of authors, writers, editors, literary agents, publishers, artists, graphic designers, or other creative professionals because of their disclosed choices regarding artificial intelligence.

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Likewise, we will not support the harassment of creators who choose to reject AI entirely.

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We believe disagreement can be vigorous without becoming dehumanizing.

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Creative sovereignty means respecting another person's right to make a different choice from your own.

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Our standard is straightforward:

• Human creativity. Transparent process. Sovereign choice.

• We will continue evaluating our practices as artificial intelligence develops, but these principles will remain the foundation of our approach.

• The creator chooses.

• The consumer chooses.

Transparency allows both to choose knowingly.

— Michael Grayson
Lightning Shadow Crossroads, LLC
Mjolnir Press