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In the last decade, tools based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) have advanced significantly. While their use was common in digital photo and video editing programs and applications, they are now migrating to other interesting areas, such as the creation of audiovisual and written content. 

In the latter, we can find everything from grammar checkers to text generators based on AI models, which have made the task of writing easier, improved content quality, and accelerated the creative process. However, their use raises significant ethical questions: where does legitimate help end and plagiarism begin? To what extent should we trust these tools without sacrificing our own creative voice? And perhaps most importantly, what is the difference between receiving help from AI and direct plagiarism?

In this article, we will explore how these tools are transforming writing and the ethical boundaries that arise with their use.

Evolution of Assisted Writing Tools

When we talk about «assisted writing tools,» we clearly refer to the use of tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing. Although these types of tools have experienced impressive evolution over the years, the concept of writing assistance is not new. Perhaps one of the first forays into this field was with the release of Microsoft Office 97. In that office suite, the famous Office Assistant, popularly known as «Clippy» (Clipo in Mexico), was introduced, a character that tried to help users by offering suggestions and corrections in their documents. Although today’s tools are much more advanced, the fundamental idea of supporting writers in their creative process and improving the quality of their texts has been present for decades.

Over time, applications like Grammarly, Hemingway, and more recently, AI-based content generators like ChatGPT, have emerged, capable of suggesting style changes, correcting errors, and even generating ideas or complete paragraphs, opening up new possibilities for writing. The capabilities of these tools are constantly evolving. For example, Microsoft’s Copilot and ChatGPT not only correct texts but also help in writing articles, essays, and other types of content. This technology has improved the productivity of many content creators but has also sparked a discussion about the ethical boundaries of its use.

Benefits of Assisted Writing Tools

Assisted writing tools offer a wide range of benefits. For students, they represent invaluable support in correcting grammatical errors and improving style. Professional writers—or those in development—can use these technologies to perfect their texts, save time on editing, and find new ways to express their ideas. Additionally, text generation tools can be useful for overcoming creative blocks and organizing ideas coherently. These tools are also excellent for those without an academic background or advanced writing experience but who wish to produce high-quality content. Their ability to provide quick and effective suggestions helps level the playing field and democratize access to quality content creation.

The Boundary Between Ethics, Plagiarism, and Originality

Despite the benefits, the use of assisted writing tools poses not only ethical challenges but also issues of authenticity and veracity. One of the biggest problems is the excessive dependence on technology, which can lead to a loss of authenticity in writing. To what extent is a text generated or assisted by artificial intelligence still an original creation of the author? The line between legitimate text improvement and over-reliance on AI to create content can become blurred.

Firstly, copyright laws currently recognize authorship exclusively to humans, creating a legal vacuum when we talk about content created by artificial intelligence, such as in the case of assisted writing tools. Additionally, we must consider that this AI-generated content is based on models and large databases composed of works that do have copyright. The responsibility of writers, when integrating AI suggestions into their work, is crucial because they must ensure that the final content reflects their own voice and creativity, not just the automated recommendations given by tools.

This leads us to the second point, one of the most controversial aspects of using these types of tools: the risk of plagiarism. Assisted writing tools can generate content that, inadvertently, resembles previously written texts. For example, when a text generator uses previous content patterns in its database, it can create phrases or paragraphs that are not entirely original. This content can be similar to that of other sources, raising concerns about plagiarism.

Although many academic and professional institutions are beginning to implement regulations to address these challenges, such as using digital tools that detect text similarities with copyrighted works or identifying how much of the content has been generated by artificial intelligence, the real challenge lies in how texts produced by tools like ChatGPT are managed. These tools can generate unique texts but based on pre-existing patterns.

Practical Applications

Many users of these tools face ethical dilemmas when it comes to maintaining the originality of their work. For example, some students have used text generators to write essays but have faced criticism about whether their work is genuinely theirs. Content marketing professionals, on the other hand, benefit from these tools to generate ideas and first drafts but always conduct a thorough review to ensure that the final product meets ethical standards of originality.

Similarly, AI-based tools, such as those presented by Adobe, which are now capable of generating automated marketing campaigns, also present an ethical dilemma: content marketing professionals must conduct a thorough review to ensure that the final product meets ethical standards. On the other hand, Adobe Firefly, the AI tool designed to help users create high-quality visual and textual content quickly and efficiently, uses AI models trained with data and content that are safe for commercial use. This includes images, text, and other types of content that have been carefully selected and curated to ensure they do not infringe copyright. Additionally, it allows users to train personalized models using their own brand assets. This means that companies can upload images and other content specific to their brand to create AI models that generate content aligned with their unique identity and style.

However, the question remains: Can these contents, based on pre-existing models and data analysis, be considered completely original? The use of big data in these tools raises questions about the efficiency and ethics of their application, as, although they can optimize campaigns and personalize messages, it is crucial that the human essence is not lost in the creative process.

The Future of Assisted Writing

Assisted writing tools have revolutionized the way we create and refine written content, offering significant benefits in terms of efficiency and quality. However, their use also poses important ethical and legal challenges. The line between legitimate assistance and plagiarism can be blurred, and it is crucial that users maintain authenticity and originality in their work. As these technologies continue to evolve, a conscious and ethical approach to their application will be essential. Education on the responsible use of these tools will play a key role in ensuring that writers use AI as a complement, not a substitute, for their creativity and personal voice. Only then can we fully leverage the advantages of artificial intelligence without compromising the integrity of our creations.

Sources Consulted for the Article

1. [Turnitin Blog](https://latam.turnitin.com/blog/escritura-con-inteligencia-artificial-desafios-educacion) – Writing with Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities for Education.

2. [Redalyc](https://www.redalyc.org/journal/916/91676028011/html/) – The Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: An Ethical and Academic Integrity Perspective.

3. [Dialnet](https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/9624297.pdf) – Systematic Review of Trends in the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Academic Writing in Social Sciences.

4. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office_97) – Information about Microsoft Office 97 and the Office Assistant «Clippy».

5. [Adobe](https://business.adobe.com/products/campaign/pricing.html) – Information about Adobe Campaign and GenStudio for Performance Marketing.

6. [G2] (https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-genstudio-for-performance-marketing/pricing) – Pricing and Features of Adobe GenStudio for Performance Marketing.

7. [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/10022340/GenStudio/) – Additional Information about Adobe GenStudio for Performance Marketing.

8.- [ AWS Case Study] – https://aws.amazon.com/es/solutions/case-studies/adobe-case-study/ Adobe’s Journey to Leadership in Generative AI with AWS.