mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

The Dearth of the Author in AI-Supported Writing

arXiv 2404.10289 ↗First posted 16 Apr 2024cs.HC cs.AIcited by 9

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Abstract (arXiv)

We diagnose and briefly discuss the dearth of the author: a condition that arises when AI-based creativity support tools for writing allow users to produce large amounts of text without making a commensurate number of creative decisions, resulting in output that is sparse in expressive intent. We argue that the dearth of the author helps to explain a number of recurring difficulties and anxieties around AI-based writing support tools, but that it also suggests an ambitious new goal for AI-based CSTs.

Key facts. Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 11 of its 28 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 16 Apr 2024.

Builds on

11 of 28 references.

References · 11

  1. 2022Training language models to follow instructions with human feedbackcited by 15,712
  2. 2022CoAuthor: Designing a Human-AI Collaborative Writing Dataset for Exploring Language Model Capabilitiescited by 245
  3. 2022Co-Writing Screenplays and Theatre Scripts with Language Models: An Evaluation by Industry Professionalscited by 191
  4. 2023Does Writing with Language Models Reduce Content Diversity?cited by 190
  5. 2023Art or Artifice? Large Language Models and the False Promise of Creativitycited by 168
  6. 2023Co-Writing with Opinionated Language Models Affects Users' Viewscited by 145
  7. 2024Homogenization Effects of Large Language Models on Human Creative Ideationcited by 127
  8. 2021Sparks: Inspiration for Science Writing using Language Modelscited by 80
  9. 2024A Design Space for Intelligent and Interactive Writing Assistantscited by 76
  10. 2022Interacting with next-phrase suggestions: How suggestion systems aid and influence the cognitive processes of writingcited by 27
  11. 2023The Prompt Artistscited by 21

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Cited by year (2026 to 7 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2024: 2; 2025: 5; 2026: 2.

9 papers.

  1. 2024Guiding and Diversifying LLM-Based Story Generation via Answer Set Programmingcited by 9
  2. 2024The Great AI Witch Hunt: Reviewers Perception and (Mis)Conception of Generative AI in Research Writingcited by 6
  3. 2025Phraselette: A Poet's Procedural Palettecited by 4
  4. 2025Constella: Supporting Storywriters' Interconnected Character Creation through LLM-based Multi-Agentscited by 4
  5. 2026LLMs Exhibit Significantly Lower Uncertainty in Creative Writing Than Professional Writerscited by 4
  6. 2025Composable Prompting Workspaces for Creative Writing: Exploration and Iteration Using Dynamic Widgetscited by 3
  7. 2025Content-Driven Local Response: Supporting Sentence-Level and Message-Level Mobile Email Replies With and Without AIcited by 2
  8. 2025PromptCanvas: Composable Prompting Workspaces Using Dynamic Widgets for Exploration and Iteration in Creative Writingcited by 1
  9. 2026Synthetic Sociality: How Generative Models Privatize the Social Fabriccited by 0