New AI Policy on Medium: Changes to the Partner Program
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Medium's AI Policy
Medium has recently implemented a significant change regarding the use of AI in its Partner Program, marking a notable shift in its content policies.
AI-generated writing has become a pressing concern for Medium. Previously, authors were required to disclose the use of AI in their articles; however, many did not adhere to this guideline, particularly for completely AI-generated pieces (not including tools like Grammarly). In a recent announcement, Medium outlined its strategy to combat fraudulent and spam content on the platform.
One notable aspect of this update is that articles produced by AI are now ineligible for revenue through the Partner Program. While authors can still indicate the use of AI, these pieces cannot be placed behind a paywall. Non-compliance with these updated regulations may lead to temporary or permanent suspensions, with decisions made on an individual basis.
Section 1.1: Personal Impact of the Changes
This new policy directly affects me, as I published several AI-generated stories and poems last year. Additionally, I created a separate account in January to share these works, ensuring that I included disclosures regarding AI usage to comply with the previous terms of service.
I reached out to Buster for clarification on my existing stories, and here is his response:
To be cautious, I’ve made all my AI-generated pieces accessible for free. My earnings from this account were minimal, totaling just $3.62 in January, $7.63 in February, and $2.83 in March. Clearly, I wasn't profiting significantly from these stories.
I will maintain my other account (Creative Works — Marcus Musick) until January of next year, but I do not plan to renew it. Instead of letting it go unused, I intend to read a few stories each day, as it serves as a way for me to give back to writers whose work I appreciate.
The last time I checked, the engagement value on my main account was around 3 cents. The value of the reads on my secondary account will likely be much higher due to my lower activity level there.
If I engage with your content, please don’t feel pressured to reciprocate. My goal is simply to support fellow writers, and I understand that my engagement value is relatively low because of my activity on this secondary account.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on these recent changes and how they may affect you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
Chapter 2: Conclusion
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