Hao Jingfang, the Hugo Award-winning Chinese science fiction author, confirmed she used AI to produce roughly half of her latest children's book series, telling domestic media that "readers can't tell which parts." The admission, made in a June 3 interview that has since been removed, centers on the final two books of her five-volume "Galaxy Academy" series and has reignited debate within China's literary community about disclosure, authorship, and the role of AI tools in creative work.
Hao built an AI profile trained on her past works and characters. Through that training, the system generated content matching her established style. She used the profile to assist with the last two books in the series. Her publisher's editors, she said, "kept praising (her AI-assisted) writing."
No legal requirement for disclosure
China currently has no law requiring books to disclose AI involvement. Factual inconsistencies and poor readability in some publications have drawn speculation and criticism about undisclosed AI use since last year. Online literature platforms have introduced restrictions on AI-generated content to comply with labeling regulations released in 2024, but traditional publishing remains unregulated on this point.
Reaction on Weibo was divided. One user wrote, "As creators are gradually being replaced by AI, she's actually taking pride in readers' inability to tell the difference." Another countered: "It's a good thing she admitted it openly. That's better than those editors who tried to hide it. At least readers can make informed choices," and called on writers to disclose their use of AI.
Hao clarifies her process
In a June 16 follow-up interview, Hao walked a finer line. She said she uses AI during research and plot development to generate ideas and learn writing techniques, but insisted that "every line was ultimately written by me." She plans to continue the approach and will label future publications as having been "created with AI assistance."
"My writing today is an exploration of the future of human-AI collaboration," Hao said. "I'm exploring how AI and I can evolve together." She has previously argued that AI cannot replace human writers, writing in a 2025 article that AI is fundamentally "data-driven" and tends toward "conformity," while only "sincere and committed creators" can develop "truly distinctive artistic styles."
Other authors weigh in
Mo Yan, China's first Nobel literature laureate, said AI can serve as a tool to assist writers but argued that "any ambitious writer should not surrender to the pressure of AI and should continue pursuing original creation." Science fiction writer Chen Qiufan has admitted using AI in his work since 2017 - one of the first Chinese authors to publicly acknowledge the practice - describing his attitude toward the technology as somewhere "between embracing it and remaining vigilant."
For writers navigating these same questions, structured training can clarify where AI fits into a creative workflow. The AI Learning Path for Scriptwriters offers a framework for integrating AI tools without ceding creative control. Broader resources on AI for Writers cover practical applications across fiction, nonfiction, and content work.
Why this matters for writers
The Hao Jingfang controversy exposes a gap many working writers will face soon: the difference between using AI as a research and ideation partner versus using it to generate prose that reaches the reader. Her initial claim that readers couldn't tell which parts were AI-written, followed by the clarification that she wrote every line herself, shows how slippery these distinctions become. The practical takeaway is not whether to use AI - most writers will - but whether your process and disclosure practices would hold up if a reader asked directly. If you cannot clearly describe what the tool did and what you did, you haven't defined your own boundaries yet.
Your membership also unlocks:
