Artificial Intelligence Affinity Group

It looks pretty good to me! Since it's fairly short, you might consider adding it to your homepage above where you suggest reading the terms of service. People are lazy and may not click. 

Playing devil's advocate here...

The sentence in bold does not "mean" what the following sentence says it means. It just means that you don't use GenAI when editing. My recommendation is to reword the first sentence and ADD to it. Because what you "mean" is that you don't use GenAI when editing, but you also won't edit anything created by GenAI (as implied by the second sentence).

There will always be someone out there who is an absolute pain-in-the-bum who will get pedantic about what sentences actually say, taking them on surface value. Therefore, we need to ensure that the surface says exactly what we mean without any extrapolation.

Another thing to play devil's advocate about: At any point during your negotiations with your prospective clients, do you mention what programs you use to assist you with editing? If you don't, then you should. And it might be worth including that information in your T&Cs too. Basically, make it clear what programs you are using, proving that you aren't using GenAI.

For example, I use ProWritingAid as part of my process, which is AI-powered, BUT I don't use the GenAI components of the program at all. (My license doesn't include that functionality, and I refuse to upgrade to the GenAI stuff.)

Within my T&Cs, I have this as two separate clauses:

1. The editor has elected to not work with AI-generated works. Please respect this. If your work has been AI-generated, then please contact another editor.
   • Any attempt to fool the editor regarding the AI nature of your writing will not be looked upon favorably and could result in the immediate termination of your contract and the forfeit of all fees paid.
   • The editor does make a distinction between AI-generated and AI-assisted. AI-assisted manuscripts will be considered.
   • If you are unsure if your story qualifies as AI-assisted, please contact the editor at [redacted email] for more guidance.
2. The editor does not use ChatGPT or any other AI tool to generate reports or to analyze client manuscripts. Everything is by hand using pen and paper and spreadsheets that have been developed by the editor. All reports and comments are personalized to the writer and are direct from the human editor that you are working with.
   • The editor uses ProWritingAid (a program similar to Grammarly) and the built-in spellchecker with MS Office. Neither tool uses ChatGPT or anything like it.

It might also be worth mentioning that you can't guarantee that a client's work hasn't been uploaded into the training pool for GenAI. While you take all precautions necessary, it is possible that just because files were sent via email, they could have been scraped at that point. Or they could have been scraped at the client's end, before it even reached your hands. While you won't deliberately add the work to the training pool, you just can't guarantee that it won't be added.

The clause that I have about the training pool issue in my T&Cs is as follows:

• Due to the AI-training clauses in Google, Microsoft, and other common systems used by writers, the editor is no longer able to guarantee that client manuscripts will not be added to the AI-training pool. While manuscripts will not be intentionally added by the editor, it is possible that system settings allow external systems to access the files for AI-training purposes anyway. It is frustrating, but guarantees can no longer be made.

(And thank you for reminding me that I need to update my main AI policy, as the legal definition about what is AI-assisted has become more defined.)

Judy, I would update one of your clauses. ProWritingAid does have generative AI tools, and that license is from ChatGPT. The program very much uses generative AI. But they do have the type of license that doesn't send data back to OpenAI. ProWritingAid has been using AI for a few years now. I did a presentation for them in 2024 about their usage. I was able to interview Chris Banks about it.

Playing devil's advocate here...

The sentence in bold does not "mean" what the following sentence says it means. It just means that you don't use GenAI when editing. My recommendation is to reword the first sentence and ADD to it. Because what you "mean" is that you don't use GenAI when editing, but you also won't edit anything created by GenAI (as implied by the second sentence).

There will always be someone out there who is an absolute pain-in-the-bum who will get pedantic about what sentences actually say, taking them on surface value. Therefore, we need to ensure that the surface says exactly what we mean without any extrapolation.

Another thing to play devil's advocate about: At any point during your negotiations with your prospective clients, do you mention what programs you use to assist you with editing? If you don't, then you should. And it might be worth including that information in your T&Cs too. Basically, make it clear what programs you are using, proving that you aren't using GenAI.

For example, I use ProWritingAid as part of my process, which is AI-powered, BUT I don't use the GenAI components of the program at all. (My license doesn't include that functionality, and I refuse to upgrade to the GenAI stuff.)

Within my T&Cs, I have this as two separate clauses:

1. The editor has elected to not work with AI-generated works. Please respect this. If your work has been AI-generated, then please contact another editor.
   • Any attempt to fool the editor regarding the AI nature of your writing will not be looked upon favorably and could result in the immediate termination of your contract and the forfeit of all fees paid.
   • The editor does make a distinction between AI-generated and AI-assisted. AI-assisted manuscripts will be considered.
   • If you are unsure if your story qualifies as AI-assisted, please contact the editor at [redacted email] for more guidance.
2. The editor does not use ChatGPT or any other AI tool to generate reports or to analyze client manuscripts. Everything is by hand using pen and paper and spreadsheets that have been developed by the editor. All reports and comments are personalized to the writer and are direct from the human editor that you are working with.
   • The editor uses ProWritingAid (a program similar to Grammarly) and the built-in spellchecker with MS Office. Neither tool uses ChatGPT or anything like it.

It might also be worth mentioning that you can't guarantee that a client's work hasn't been uploaded into the training pool for GenAI. While you take all precautions necessary, it is possible that just because files were sent via email, they could have been scraped at that point. Or they could have been scraped at the client's end, before it even reached your hands. While you won't deliberately add the work to the training pool, you just can't guarantee that it won't be added.

The clause that I have about the training pool issue in my T&Cs is as follows:

• Due to the AI-training clauses in Google, Microsoft, and other common systems used by writers, the editor is no longer able to guarantee that client manuscripts will not be added to the AI-training pool. While manuscripts will not be intentionally added by the editor, it is possible that system settings allow external systems to access the files for AI-training purposes anyway. It is frustrating, but guarantees can no longer be made.

(And thank you for reminding me that I need to update my main AI policy, as the legal definition about what is AI-assisted has become more defined.)

Judy, I would update one of your clauses. ProWritingAid does have generative AI tools, and that license is from ChatGPT. The program very much uses generative AI. But they do have the type of license that doesn't send data back to OpenAI. ProWritingAid has been using AI for a few years now. I did a presentation for them in 2024 about their usage. I was able to interview Chris Banks about it.

------------------------------
JeanetteSmith
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2026 14:47
From: Judy L Mohr
Subject: Opinions on my new policy about generative AI that's now on my website

Playing devil's advocate here...

The sentence in bold does not "mean" what the following sentence says it means. It just means that you don't use GenAI when editing. My recommendation is to reword the first sentence and ADD to it. Because what you "mean" is that you don't use GenAI when editing, but you also won't edit anything created by GenAI (as implied by the second sentence).

There will always be someone out there who is an absolute pain-in-the-bum who will get pedantic about what sentences actually say, taking them on surface value. Therefore, we need to ensure that the surface says exactly what we mean without any extrapolation.

Another thing to play devil's advocate about: At any point during your negotiations with your prospective clients, do you mention what programs you use to assist you with editing? If you don't, then you should. And it might be worth including that information in your T&Cs too. Basically, make it clear what programs you are using, proving that you aren't using GenAI.

For example, I use ProWritingAid as part of my process, which is AI-powered, BUT I don't use the GenAI components of the program at all. (My license doesn't include that functionality, and I refuse to upgrade to the GenAI stuff.)

Within my T&Cs, I have this as two separate clauses:

1. The editor has elected to not work with AI-generated works. Please respect this. If your work has been AI-generated, then please contact another editor.
   • Any attempt to fool the editor regarding the AI nature of your writing will not be looked upon favorably and could result in the immediate termination of your contract and the forfeit of all fees paid.
   • The editor does make a distinction between AI-generated and AI-assisted. AI-assisted manuscripts will be considered.
   • If you are unsure if your story qualifies as AI-assisted, please contact the editor at [redacted email] for more guidance.
2. The editor does not use ChatGPT or any other AI tool to generate reports or to analyze client manuscripts. Everything is by hand using pen and paper and spreadsheets that have been developed by the editor. All reports and comments are personalized to the writer and are direct from the human editor that you are working with.
   • The editor uses ProWritingAid (a program similar to Grammarly) and the built-in spellchecker with MS Office. Neither tool uses ChatGPT or anything like it.

It might also be worth mentioning that you can't guarantee that a client's work hasn't been uploaded into the training pool for GenAI. While you take all precautions necessary, it is possible that just because files were sent via email, they could have been scraped at that point. Or they could have been scraped at the client's end, before it even reached your hands. While you won't deliberately add the work to the training pool, you just can't guarantee that it won't be added.

The clause that I have about the training pool issue in my T&Cs is as follows:

• Due to the AI-training clauses in Google, Microsoft, and other common systems used by writers, the editor is no longer able to guarantee that client manuscripts will not be added to the AI-training pool. While manuscripts will not be intentionally added by the editor, it is possible that system settings allow external systems to access the files for AI-training purposes anyway. It is frustrating, but guarantees can no longer be made.

(And thank you for reminding me that I need to update my main AI policy, as the legal definition about what is AI-assisted has become more defined.)

------------------------------
Judy L Mohr
Writer & Story Coach
https://judylmohr.com
------------------------------

Playing devil's advocate here...

The sentence in bold does not "mean" what the following sentence says it means. It just means that you don't use GenAI when editing. My recommendation is to reword the first sentence and ADD to it. Because what you "mean" is that you don't use GenAI when editing, but you also won't edit anything created by GenAI (as implied by the second sentence).

There will always be someone out there who is an absolute pain-in-the-bum who will get pedantic about what sentences actually say, taking them on surface value. Therefore, we need to ensure that the surface says exactly what we mean without any extrapolation.

Another thing to play devil's advocate about: At any point during your negotiations with your prospective clients, do you mention what programs you use to assist you with editing? If you don't, then you should. And it might be worth including that information in your T&Cs too. Basically, make it clear what programs you are using, proving that you aren't using GenAI.

For example, I use ProWritingAid as part of my process, which is AI-powered, BUT I don't use the GenAI components of the program at all. (My license doesn't include that functionality, and I refuse to upgrade to the GenAI stuff.)

Within my T&Cs, I have this as two separate clauses:

1. The editor has elected to not work with AI-generated works. Please respect this. If your work has been AI-generated, then please contact another editor.
   • Any attempt to fool the editor regarding the AI nature of your writing will not be looked upon favorably and could result in the immediate termination of your contract and the forfeit of all fees paid.
   • The editor does make a distinction between AI-generated and AI-assisted. AI-assisted manuscripts will be considered.
   • If you are unsure if your story qualifies as AI-assisted, please contact the editor at [redacted email] for more guidance.
2. The editor does not use ChatGPT or any other AI tool to generate reports or to analyze client manuscripts. Everything is by hand using pen and paper and spreadsheets that have been developed by the editor. All reports and comments are personalized to the writer and are direct from the human editor that you are working with.
   • The editor uses ProWritingAid (a program similar to Grammarly) and the built-in spellchecker with MS Office. Neither tool uses ChatGPT or anything like it.

It might also be worth mentioning that you can't guarantee that a client's work hasn't been uploaded into the training pool for GenAI. While you take all precautions necessary, it is possible that just because files were sent via email, they could have been scraped at that point. Or they could have been scraped at the client's end, before it even reached your hands. While you won't deliberately add the work to the training pool, you just can't guarantee that it won't be added.

The clause that I have about the training pool issue in my T&Cs is as follows:

• Due to the AI-training clauses in Google, Microsoft, and other common systems used by writers, the editor is no longer able to guarantee that client manuscripts will not be added to the AI-training pool. While manuscripts will not be intentionally added by the editor, it is possible that system settings allow external systems to access the files for AI-training purposes anyway. It is frustrating, but guarantees can no longer be made.

(And thank you for reminding me that I need to update my main AI policy, as the legal definition about what is AI-assisted has become more defined.)

Playing devil's advocate here...

The sentence in bold does not "mean" what the following sentence says it means. It just means that you don't use GenAI when editing. My recommendation is to reword the first sentence and ADD to it. Because what you "mean" is that you don't use GenAI when editing, but you also won't edit anything created by GenAI (as implied by the second sentence).

There will always be someone out there who is an absolute pain-in-the-bum who will get pedantic about what sentences actually say, taking them on surface value. Therefore, we need to ensure that the surface says exactly what we mean without any extrapolation.

Another thing to play devil's advocate about: At any point during your negotiations with your prospective clients, do you mention what programs you use to assist you with editing? If you don't, then you should. And it might be worth including that information in your T&Cs too. Basically, make it clear what programs you are using, proving that you aren't using GenAI.

For example, I use ProWritingAid as part of my process, which is AI-powered, BUT I don't use the GenAI components of the program at all. (My license doesn't include that functionality, and I refuse to upgrade to the GenAI stuff.)

Within my T&Cs, I have this as two separate clauses:

1. The editor has elected to not work with AI-generated works. Please respect this. If your work has been AI-generated, then please contact another editor.
   • Any attempt to fool the editor regarding the AI nature of your writing will not be looked upon favorably and could result in the immediate termination of your contract and the forfeit of all fees paid.
   • The editor does make a distinction between AI-generated and AI-assisted. AI-assisted manuscripts will be considered.
   • If you are unsure if your story qualifies as AI-assisted, please contact the editor at [redacted email] for more guidance.
2. The editor does not use ChatGPT or any other AI tool to generate reports or to analyze client manuscripts. Everything is by hand using pen and paper and spreadsheets that have been developed by the editor. All reports and comments are personalized to the writer and are direct from the human editor that you are working with.
   • The editor uses ProWritingAid (a program similar to Grammarly) and the built-in spellchecker with MS Office. Neither tool uses ChatGPT or anything like it.

It might also be worth mentioning that you can't guarantee that a client's work hasn't been uploaded into the training pool for GenAI. While you take all precautions necessary, it is possible that just because files were sent via email, they could have been scraped at that point. Or they could have been scraped at the client's end, before it even reached your hands. While you won't deliberately add the work to the training pool, you just can't guarantee that it won't be added.

The clause that I have about the training pool issue in my T&Cs is as follows:

• Due to the AI-training clauses in Google, Microsoft, and other common systems used by writers, the editor is no longer able to guarantee that client manuscripts will not be added to the AI-training pool. While manuscripts will not be intentionally added by the editor, it is possible that system settings allow external systems to access the files for AI-training purposes anyway. It is frustrating, but guarantees can no longer be made.

(And thank you for reminding me that I need to update my main AI policy, as the legal definition about what is AI-assisted has become more defined.)