Earlier this month, Steve Rosenbaum’s new book The Future of Truth hit a snag. Not because it was about artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on reality, but because the author admitted to mistakenly including several made-up quotes in his work.

A statement from Rosenbaum revealed that he had used AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to ‘refine and polish’ his ideas during the writing process. However, when WIRED ran an excerpt through various AI-detection services, it suggested the text was either entirely or partially generated by AI. The results were perplexing—how can a book about truth be so muddled?

Rosenbaum’s admission that he used AI tools sparked a debate on authenticity and transparency in writing. He stressed that his ideas and arguments are his own, but critics argue that the use of such tools undermines the trust readers place in authors.

Reflecting on the episode, Rosenbaum said, 'I don’t participate in that conversation.' It’s a statement that feels like an echo chamber, given how much he has to defend. His fear for fellow writers who might be using AI reflects a broader concern about technology’s role in creative processes.