Sorry ChatGPT: Why modern civilization still needs human storytellers

Blazing Reader,

Irish novelist Laurence O’Bryan gave this warning about the dangers of AI storytelling at the recent 2025 Self-Publishing Advice Conference:

"One of the important things about storytelling has been our ability to talk about sensitive subjects. It's one of the ways to gauge a civilization. The success of a civilization is whether that civilization allows people to criticize the civilization....

"And that's one of the things where we still need humans to make sure we can still question powers and to make sure that the [AI] guardrails are not stopping us and turning us into an autocracy where we're governed and not allowed to think for ourselves and we're not allowed to question.

"So we need humans to add that questioning and depth and humanity to the stories. If we rely on AI, it's not going to question things, it's not going to have depth, it's not going to have real humanity, it's not going to have the unique experiences that you have...."

You can hear O’Bryan's entire talk, along with all the other speakers from the 2025 Self-Publishing Advice Conference, by joining the Alliance for Independent Authors. If you've ever wanted to self-publish a book, this is a great organization for resources, support and advice.

John C.A. Manley

P.S. Both my novels are 100% organic. AI didn't write a single word — even with the novel about AI. 

P.P.S. And for more about Laurence O’Bryan's thriller novels, visit him on GoodReads.

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona, All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of philosophical fiction that are "so completely engaging that you find yourself alternately laughing, gasping, hanging on for dear life." Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber.