Writing WITH Artificial Intelligence?! | My Experience with NovelAI

Dylan introduces himself and his channel 'No Categories,' which focuses on writing and technology. He briefly mentions NovelAI, an AI-driven writing tool designed to assist with storytelling. Dylan explains how the AI uses natural language processing and offers various customization options, emphasizing its flexibility and privacy features. He shares his personal experience with NovelAI, noting that it can sometimes feel like collaborating with the AI in the writing process.

Dylan describes the core mechanics of NovelAI. The app provides a writing space where users can ask the AI to contribute to their stories at any point. Writers can also refine the AI's suggestions and choose between different AI models designed for specific writing styles. A standout feature is the 'memory' section, where writers can input key details to help the AI maintain consistency throughout the story, countering its short memory limitations.

NovelAI offers 'Author Notes,' allowing users to give instructions to guide the AI in a manner akin to directing actors. These notes can be saved or inserted directly into the text for dynamic changes. Dylan also mentions that NovelAI can generate images, although he personally isn't as interested in this feature. He briefly hints at the app's ability to train custom AI models based on a user's writing style.

Dylan shares two experiments he conducted using NovelAI. In one, he wrote a high school drama based on a pre-existing template, where the AI introduced an intriguing plot twist. In another, he tested its configuration options, setting the story in a Gilded Age hotel. While he preferred realism, NovelAI introduced fantasy elements like ghosts, leading to a compromise of magical realism.

Dylan touches on the strong emphasis NovelAI places on privacy and freedom of speech. He finds the user community, particularly on Reddit and Discord, overly fixated on these topics. While he agrees with the importance of these values, he wishes for more focus on writing-related discussions rather than constant debates around privacy.

Dylan criticizes the AI image generation feature in NovelAI, as it often leads to the creation of overly exaggerated anime-style characters, particularly 'hot anime babes.' While some users may enjoy this, he finds it distracting from his primary goal—writing. Dylan suggests that this aspect of the platform could overshadow its writing features for some users.

Although Dylan appreciates NovelAI’s advanced settings, he finds them a bit confusing. He points out the existence of helpful resources like an official tutorial, a well-written wiki, and Reddit guides. However, he expresses a desire for more streamlined documentation, video tutorials, and official guidance to make the learning process smoother for new users.

Dylan discusses NovelAI’s pricing, noting that the full feature set costs $25 a month, comparable to other subscription services like Spotify and Netflix. He acknowledges the steep price but finds value in the features. He suggests that it might be worth subscribing occasionally to access new writing features before canceling the subscription and revisiting it later.

Dylan invites viewers to share their experiences with NovelAI or ask questions in the comments. He concludes by summarizing his view on NovelAI—it's a powerful tool that can help create unique stories, and while it has some confusing settings and a high price, it's worth trying out for at least a month.