Can People Tell The Difference Between Story and BS?

Major publishers are quietly using AI to write jacket copy, design covers, and pitch literary agents, mostly without telling readers or authors. Optimists like urbanist Richard Florida argue that AI will make human judgment, taste, and imagination more valuable, not less. But that argument assumes readers are buying quality. Are they? Some of the bestselling books of all time go largely unread. Derek Thompson’s Hit Makers found that audiences don’t want something new; they want “familiar surprises”: the same worlds, characters, and plots with just enough of a twist. Researchers have built an algorithm that predicts New York Times bestsellers from the text alone. And readers often buy the author as much as the book. Philosopher Harry Frankfurt drew a useful line: a liar cares about the truth enough to hide it, but a bullshitter cares only about the effect on the audience. Story is invented, but it’s true to something. AI can now produce story-shaped text at almost no cost, with no stake in whether it’s true to anything. So if readers can’t tell the difference, or don’t care, what is a writer for? And what is fiction for? Join Henry Sullivan and Kristine Madera as they dig in. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit henrylsullivaniii.substack.com/subscribe (https://henrylsullivaniii.substack.co...)