Is NovelAI Actually Good Now?

The Nerdy Novelist
29 Sept 202313:53

TLDRThe speaker discusses their evolving opinion on Novel AI, a writing tool that has recently introduced updates allowing for better direction and control over its output. Despite initial skepticism, they purchased a subscription after recognizing its potential, especially for writing not safe for work content. They note that while the tool is improving, there is still a learning curve and a need for more user-friendly features to cater to a broader audience, including authors without technical skills.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“ The speaker initially had reservations about Novel AI but has since changed their mind after updates.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Novel AI has improved by introducing better prompting mechanisms for users to guide the AI's output direction.
  • ๐Ÿ“š The speaker suggests using Novel AI for writing 'not safe for work' content due to its proficiency in handling such material.
  • ๐ŸŽฏ The speaker's main issue with Novel AI was the lack of clear instructions and user-friendliness for authors.
  • ๐Ÿง  The speaker mentions that Novel AI's memory feature allows for influencing AI output, but its effectiveness is still being explored.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ The AI tool has a character limit of 400 characters per output, which the speaker finds restrictive.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ The speaker notes that Novel AI is in beta and still has room for improvement, especially in following user instructions.
  • ๐Ÿ“– The speaker appreciates the quality of the text produced by Novel AI, despite some issues with following directions.
  • ๐Ÿ“š The 'lore book' feature is highlighted as a useful tool for managing character and world-building information.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก The speaker suggests using Novel AI for specific NSFW scenes in conjunction with other AI writing tools for a more seamless writing process.
  • ๐Ÿš€ The speaker is optimistic about the future of Novel AI, expecting it to become more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience.

Q & A

  • What was the speaker's initial issue with Novel AI?

    -The speaker's initial issue with Novel AI was that it didn't have a good way to prompt and direct the AI, causing it to lack clear direction in its output.

  • How has Novel AI improved since the speaker's initial video?

    -Novel AI has improved by introducing a new feature that allows users to prompt the AI and give it direction, as well as making updates to its models and capabilities.

  • What feature did the speaker find particularly useful for writing not safe for work content?

    -The speaker found Novel AI's ability to handle not safe for work content, such as graphic violence or explicit sexual moments, particularly useful.

  • What is the speaker's main criticism of Novel AI's user experience?

    -The speaker's main criticism is that Novel AI seems to lack clarity in understanding its target market and does not provide an intuitive user experience for authors who may not have technical skills.

  • How does the speaker suggest using Novel AI in combination with other AI writing tools?

    -The speaker suggests writing the majority of the text in other AI tools like Claude, and then using Novel AI specifically for not safe for work content, as it handles those parts well.

  • What is the significance of the 'lore book' feature in Novel AI?

    -The 'lore book' feature allows users to create entries for characters, world-building, locations, etc., which the AI can reference only when needed, thus saving context space and making it a useful tool for managing information.

  • What does the speaker suggest as a key improvement for Novel AI's user experience?

    -The speaker suggests that Novel AI needs to become more accessible and intuitive for users with no technical skills, possibly by providing better documentation and guidance for newcomers.

  • How does the speaker describe the community surrounding Novel AI?

    -The speaker describes the community as tight-knit and somewhat exclusive, with members sharing resources and tips mainly through platforms like Discord.

  • What is the speaker's overall verdict on Novel AI after testing its updated features?

    -The speaker acknowledges the improvements and potential of Novel AI, especially for writing not safe for work content, but maintains that the platform needs to work on its user experience and accessibility.

  • Which AI model does the speaker recommend for its language quality and how does it compare to others?

    -The speaker recommends the 'Kara' model for its language quality, stating that it is on par with other models like 'Claude' and has a nice use of language.

  • What is the speaker's suggestion for users who are interested in trying out Novel AI?

    -The speaker suggests that users should be prepared for a learning curve and be willing to experiment with Novel AI's features and settings to achieve the desired results.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ“ Initial Impressions and Updates on Novel AI

The speaker begins by discussing their previous skepticism towards Novel AI, a writing tool that utilizes artificial intelligence. They acknowledge the backlash from a previous video where they criticized the platform. However, they note recent updates that have led them to reconsider their stance and even purchase a subscription. The speaker highlights the tool's potential for writing content that is not safe for work, and they express a desire to explore the tool further to see if it has indeed improved over time.

05:00

๐Ÿ“Š Testing Novel AI's Prompting and Direction Features

In this section, the speaker delves into the specifics of how Novel AI has updated its system to allow for better user control through the use of prompts and directions. They describe their testing process using a heavily edited chapter and the author's notes to guide the AI's output. The speaker explains the new features, such as the ability to input prompts and choose from different AI models and writing styles. Despite some initial challenges with the instructions not being followed correctly, they remain optimistic about the tool's potential and suggest that with further experimentation and development, Novel AI could become more effective.

10:01

๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ Novel AI's Strengths and Areas for Improvement

The speaker concludes by summarizing their updated thoughts on Novel AI. They commend the platform for its advancements, particularly in creating content that is not safe for work. They note the high quality of the text produced by the AI and its ability to follow context effectively. However, they also point out the need for the platform to better understand its target market and make the tool more accessible to authors with no technical skills. The speaker suggests that while Novel AI shows promise, it still requires improvements in user-friendliness and comprehensive documentation to cater to a wider audience, including those who may not be as technologically inclined.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กNovel AI

Novel AI is an artificial intelligence tool designed to assist in writing stories, books, and other narrative forms. In the video, the user discusses their experience with Novel AI, highlighting its features, improvements, and challenges. The tool is noted for its ability to generate content, particularly in the realm of not safe for work (NSFW) content, and for its potential to be a valuable resource for authors once they understand how to use it effectively.

๐Ÿ’กBacklash

Backlash refers to the strong negative reaction or criticism that the user received after they made an unfavorable video about Novel AI in the past. This reaction influenced the user's decision to revisit the tool and provide an updated perspective.

๐Ÿ’กUpdates

Updates in this context refer to the recent improvements made to Novel AI by its developers. These updates have addressed some of the user's initial concerns and have enhanced the tool's capabilities, prompting the user to reconsider their opinion of it.

๐Ÿ’กStory Mode

Story Mode is one of the different modes available in Novel AI, specifically tailored for writing books, short stories, or any narrative text. It allows users to interact with the AI in a way that generates story-like content based on user inputs and directions.

๐Ÿ’กPrompting

Prompting is the process of giving instructions or guidance to the AI to influence the direction and content of its output. In the context of Novel AI, the user explores the new prompting feature, which allows them to provide specific cues to the AI to follow when generating text.

๐Ÿ’กNot Safe for Work (NSFW)

NSFW is a term used to label content that is inappropriate for a professional or public setting, often due to its explicit nature. In the video, the user mentions that Novel AI has become a useful tool for writing NSFW content, such as graphic violence or sexual scenes.

๐Ÿ’กAuthor's Notes

Author's Notes is a feature in Novel AI that allows users to provide additional information or direction to the AI, which is intended to strongly influence the AI's output. It serves as a tool for writers to guide the narrative and ensure that the AI's generated content aligns with their vision.

๐Ÿ’กLore Book

Lore Book is a feature within Novel AI that enables users to create and store entries related to their story's world-building elements, such as characters, settings, and locations. The AI can then reference this information when needed, ensuring consistency and depth in the generated content.

๐Ÿ’กBeta Testing

Beta testing is the phase of software development where the application is tested by end-users to identify and fix any bugs or issues before its official release. In the video, the user mentions that they are beta testing another AI tool, indicating that Novel AI's features are still in development and being refined.

๐Ÿ’กUser Experience (UX)

User Experience, or UX, refers to how easy and intuitive it is for users to interact with a software or tool. In the context of the video, the user discusses their initial difficulties in understanding how to use Novel AI and suggests that the tool could improve its UX to make it more accessible to a wider range of users, including those without technical skills.

๐Ÿ’กCommunity

Community in this context refers to the group of users who share knowledge, tips, and resources about using Novel AI. The user notes that while there is a tight-knit community of people who have figured out how to use Novel AI effectively, the tool should be accessible to a broader audience, including those who are new to AI writing tools.

Highlights

The speaker initially had reservations about Novel AI but has since changed their mind after updates.

Novel AI has made updates that have led the speaker to purchase a subscription.

The speaker acknowledges that some backlash they received for a previous video about Novel AI was justified.

Novel AI is considered a good tool for writing content that is not safe for work, such as excessive violence or sex.

The speaker experimented with the 'memory' and 'author's notes' features to give direction to the AI.

The 'story mode' in Novel AI is used for writing books or short stories.

The speaker tested Novel AI by using a heavily edited chapter and its original beats.

Novel AI now has a feature to input prompts, which was a previous limitation.

The AI model 'Kara' is recommended for its language quality and ability to follow instructions.

The 'General instruct' AI module is chosen for its ability to be directed.

The 'fresh coffee' config preset is used for its instructive capabilities.

The speaker prefers a minimum of 400 words per output, which Novel AI can provide.

Novel AI's output length is limited compared to other AI tools the speaker is testing.

The speaker found that Novel AI struggled with following instructions, particularly the point of view.

Novel AI is praised for its quality of text and its ability to follow context.

The 'lore book' feature is highlighted as a useful tool for world-building and character development.

The speaker suggests using Novel AI for NSFW content within a larger work written in other AI tools.

The speaker criticizes Novel AI's user-friendliness and accessibility for authors with no technical skills.

The speaker believes Novel AI has potential but needs to improve its intuitiveness and user guidance.

The speaker is optimistic about future improvements to Novel AI based on recent updates.