Informative, Photo Prompt, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

AI Challenge: My Story

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction
Challenge using this image for inspiration.
Here’s where the image took me.
Caveat: This is not fiction

© Markus Winkler

Sometime around Christmas 2025, I found an unsettling anonymous message in my comments section. “Anonymous” accused me of using AI to write my stories and claimed to have proof. I probably should have ignored the comment, but I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I denied using AI and said I didn’t appreciate being accused. I went on to say if Anonymous had a gripe with me, they should level the playing field and identify themselves …. not leave some cowardly random anon comment for me to find. Additionally, I challenged this individual to show their proof, which they did not. I deleted the comment, but I was annoyed and wondered if they would continue harassing me, but that was the end of it. Family and friends know I’m a stickler for honesty and accountability; along comes this clown with his/her accusations, and it stung.

Now we have this timely topic from Melisa, which reminded me of a prompt group I used to follow. It was different and challenging, so when the host announced he would be changing the format, I was curious to see what he had planned. (This will sound familiar to my long-time readers.) The host’s vision was to go all AI; he would provide an image and we were to respond with an unedited computer generated story. We were also expected to explain our thought process and the step-by-step instructions we gave to the AI program. I was willing to give it a try and found a free online AI app to create a story. After the story was published on my site, it was panned by my readers who all had the same opinion: the story didn’t flow, it had no “soul”, and it didn’t sound like me. I was not offended because they spoke the truth; it wasn’t me. I explained the premise behind the new challenge, saying that I looked at it as an experiment but would not proceed with it. That was the last time I wrote anything using AI.

Don’t get me wrong …. I think AI definitely has its place. I possess zero drawing talent which is why I love using an AI app to create images to accompany everything I write. AI is not perfect and describing what I want my image to look like can be challenging. Wording is key. Here’s a brief example: Copilot refused to create an image of a woman standing in a bathroom looking at an early pregnancy test but had no problem creating an image of a woman looking at an EPT box. Go figure.

So what’s my point? I’m not sure I have one other than to say that we shouldn’t be so quick to judge and certainly not to accuse unless we can back it up with solid proof. I believe in free speech, but I also believe in the concept of “the presumption of innocence”. I never heard from my anonymous accuser again and that’s fine; they’re history. But I still get a little twinge when I see an anonymous comment.

Thanks for reading, my friends, and for being faithful followers. Thanks also to Melissa for providing me with a soap box.

NAR©2026

This is “Get Off Of My Cloud” by The Rolling Stones

Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #375

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

45 thoughts on “AI Challenge: My Story”

  1. Thank you for sharing, Nancy! It is unsettling when we (people) accuse each other of using AI, especially when the statement is not true. I have an artist friend who submitted original work for a project, and the publisher refused to accept it because it came back as probably AI-generated since there were images that looked somewhat similar online. So, not only does AI take away work from artists and other creatives, it can also indirectly take away credibility. I agree with working smarter and not harder, but I think we need to keep the humanity in humans.💛

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    1. You are 100% correct, Melissa; we as people need to nurture and maintain our own humanity. This is what separates us from everything else. I have learned how being deceitful always comes back to bite us and I try my very best to be honest. Like everyone else, I’m a work in progress so it’s not always easy. One of the things about artificial intelligence that I find ironic is how other means of AI (detector) must be employed to determine the “humanity” of a person’s work. My accuser said “according to an AI detection app”, my peace was artificially generated. Talk about a double standard! There’s something very wrong with that scenario. Thank you for this insightful and informative, comment. You are always gracious and I appreciate you. 🩷

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  2. I hate anonomyous comments! Why is there even an option to be anonomyous? I’m not a fan of using AI in my writing, but occasionally I use it to look up things, read about poetry forms, etc. It does have its uses!

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  6. It took me a while find out what the initials “AI” stood for, and then I wondered how can “IT” be intelligent if it’s ‘Artificial’ … and then I looked up the meaning of ‘Artificial’ … and now I’m going to bed and my ‘real’ dreamworld …

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  7. I know the feeling of wanting to respond to an abusive comment. I did once, and although I felt better, I know it didn’t make any difference.

    WP tends to make me anonymous sometimes, even though I see my avatar as type the comment. I try to follow the “if you don’t have something nice to say…” rule for comments.

    I have used AI to create and augment images. It doesn’t always work very well. Mostly I use my own photographs when I need an image.

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    1. It’s human to want to defend yourself or retaliate in some way; I have to learn to draw the line at complete strangers! It reminds me of the unknown callers who repeatedly call on our landline. We have caller ID and don’t answer if we don’t recognize the number; these are bothersome repeat calls on some kind of loop and just once I’d love to answer the phone and give the caller what for. My husband always asks me if I really want to engage these people and the answer is “yes!” …. even though I know it’s pointless. They’ll just call again the next day.

      Just like AI, WordPress isn’t perfect. There are a couple of issues I’m experiencing with them right now that simply shouldn’t be going on.

      Your photographs are gorgeous and in my eyes don’t need any help from AI. Thanks for your comments and for sharing your thoughts, Dan. 😊

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      1. We are the same with the people who call. They are either trying to scam us into a healthcare option or asking for money. I’m like you, I want to pick up and yell, but the initial “person” isn’t even a human.

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    1. That’s really funny, Brian! When I told my husband about this anonymous commenter who allegedly had “proof” that I used AI, he asked how something like that can be proven. I told him there had to be some sort of AI detection programs. He thought that was pretty rich …. one app checking for another app! 😂

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      1. Apparently teachers and university lecturers have a way of detecting if a student has used AI for their assignments. Yes an app checking an app. I enjoyed your husbands mirth 😂

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  12. I remember both of the instances you describe. Your writing is unique to you, and AI could never improve it. I’ve only ever used it for a couple of illustrations and it did those well, but I wouldn’t go near it to write anything for me.

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    1. Clive, I knew you would remember as we’ve talked about it a couple of times. It’s a lesson and I don’t regret trying it because that’s how we learn. Thanks for these beautiful comments and for your constant encouragement and support. I appreciate it and you. 😊

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  13. This is weird, Nancy, because I had a few ‘likes’ on my site from someone named Anonymous. After a few times ‘chatting’ I asked their name so I could respond instead of to Anonymous. Crickets. Never heard back. Probably went over to your site. 😂

    Your pictures with AI are always fabulous–so spot on! But why would you want all your writing to be done by someone else. And then explain your entire thought process? Makes no sense.

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    1. Aha! So that’s where the crickets came from! Thanks a lot, Lois! 😆 A similar thing happened to me with another anonymous commenter who was bubbling over with compliments. When I clicked on their profile, there was no information. I honestly don’t know how these trolls are allowed to comment on WP; I doubt it’s just a simple thing we can control in our settings. Technology!

      Thanks for your wonderful comments about my images. I have a blast creating them and it’s so much fun when AI gets it right. Regarding your last question, I can’t answer it. I don’t know why this particular prompt host thought it was a good idea. I haven’t gone back to see if he’s still running his group. I can’t imagine how someone would get prolonged satisfaction out of letting AI write all their stuff.

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  15. 🙌 Well said Nance – I don’t think AI could write anything as good as your words and I remember the experiment you did with the AI challenge. Like you, I think AI has its place, I use it for images and of course the voices on Suno – which does a pretty good job for what I need 😊

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    1. Ange, thank you for this amazing comment. You are so kind and I appreciate you. I haven’t figured out how to use Suno but that’s OK; I have enough going on! You have that magic touch and I find everything on your site so enjoyable. 🥰

      With things like AI, the phrase “it’s all good until it isn’t” truly applies, and there’s a fine line between controlling it and having it control you. Thanks again, Ange. ✨

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