Internationally acclaimed Chinese science fiction writer Hao Jingfang has sparked heated debate after revealing that “half” of her latest work was “written with AI,” stating, “readers can’t tell which parts.”

The controversy concerns the final two books in her five-volume children’s science fiction series, “Galaxy Academy,” and follows a June 3 interview with domestic media. In the interview, which has since been removed, Hao said that her publisher’s editors “kept praising (her AI-assisted) writing.”

China currently has no legal requirement for books to disclose AI involvement, though factual inconsistencies and poor readability in publications have repeatedly prompted speculation and criticism about AI use since last year. Only online literature platforms have introduced restrictions on AI-generated content to comply with labeling regulations released in 2024.

Hao previously told domestic media that she built an AI profile using her past works and characters as a knowledge base. Through training, the system can generate content that follows her established style. She admitted to using the profile to help her write the last two books in “Galaxy Academy.”

Regarding Hao’s interview, one user wrote on microblogging platform Weibo, “As creators are gradually being replaced by AI, she’s actually taking pride in readers’ inability to tell the difference.”

“It’s a good thing she admitted it openly,” wrote another user. “That’s better than those editors who tried to hide it. At least readers can make informed choices,” before calling on writers to disclose their use of AI.

In response to the controversy, Hao clarified in a June 16 interview with domestic media that she uses AI during research and plot development to generate ideas and learn writing techniques, but “every line was ultimately written by me.”

She added that she plans to continue using this 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.”

Despite embracing the technology, Hao has previously argued that AI cannot replace human writers. In a 2025 article, she wrote that AI is fundamentally “data-driven” and tends toward “conformity,” while only “sincere and committed creators” can develop “truly distinctive artistic styles.”

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.”

Meanwhile, award-winning 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.”

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: VCG)