Should your magazine tell readers when it uses AI?
3 min read
Sooner or later a member asks: "Is this written by AI?" A policy you decided in advance lets you answer calmly and the same way every time.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules differ by country and by type of content, so check what applies to you.
Why bother
Trust is the thing a member magazine has to protect. Readers will forgive an ordinary error. They're much less forgiving when they feel misled about who wrote something or whether a photograph shows a real person.
A simple three-level approach
Level 1: tools that help a human. Spell-check, grammar suggestions, translation of your own words, proofreading lists. No label needed on each article. Mention it in your standing policy.
Level 2: AI-drafted or substantially assisted text. A piece where AI produced a first draft, a summary or a rewrite that a human then edited. Add a short note, for example: "This article was drafted with AI assistance and edited by [name]."
Level 3: AI-generated images, voices or anything that could be mistaken for real. Always label. Say what it is. Don't present a generated image as a photograph of a real event or person.
Never
- Attribute words to a real person that they didn't write or say.
- Present AI output as a member's contribution.
- Use generated images of real members, real events or real products without telling readers.
Where to put the note
- On the piece itself: a line at the end, in the same type size as the byline.
- On a standing page: a short statement on your contents or about page.
- To contributors: write it into your guidelines, so volunteers know what's expected.
Sample wording
Standing statement:
Our editors may use AI tools for proofreading, headline suggestions and summaries. Everything is checked and approved by a person. Articles that were substantially drafted with AI assistance are labelled.
Article note:
This article was drafted with the help of an AI tool and edited and fact-checked by [name].
Image note:
Illustration generated with AI.
Tell your contributors
If you accept articles from members, ask them to tell you if they used AI and how. You need to know to label correctly, and to check facts properly.
Review it
The tools and the rules are changing. Look at your policy once or twice a year. Put the date on it.
Related
What to hand to AI and what to keep. A checklist for AI-assisted writing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to disclose AI use?
It depends on where you are and what you do. Some rules apply to advertising, political content and synthetic media. Check the rules that apply to you. This article is general guidance, not legal advice.
What counts as substantial AI use?
A rough test is whether AI produced the words, images or voices a reader sees, as opposed to checking or tidying work a human created.
Where should the disclosure go?
Put a short note on the article, and a standing statement on your about or contents page.
Will disclosing hurt trust?
Members tend to react worse to finding out later. A plain, matter-of-fact note is usually fine.
