Online Storytelling Spaces: Exploring Participants' Perceptions of Overt and Covert AI Agents

Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly transforming online collaborative environments, such as online storytelling communities, where creativity and social interaction thrive. Participatory engagement, shared interests, and a sense of community have long characterized such spaces. The entry of overt and covert AI agents-tools and systems explicitly acknowledged or subtly integrated-introduces new dynamics that challenge traditional practices. Overt AI agents, such as story suggestion tools or automated writing assistants, offer visible contributions that can enhance creative output but may alter the perception of authenticity and originality. In contrast, covert AI agents, operating behind the scenes to create engagement, shape content recommendations, or simulate user behavior, raise questions about transparency and trust. Both types of AI disrupt established norms of collaboration by influencing how stories are co-created and shared among users. This research focuses on the views and perceptions of participants within fanfiction communities regarding these developments. It examines how technological shifts impact the essence of online creative spaces. Participants shared concerns about diminished human connections and the potential erosion of collaborative spirit when AI participation is not openly acknowledged. They emphasized the importance of preserving transparency and ensuring that AI systems enhance, rather than undermine, the values of inclusivity, engagement, and mutual creativity that define these environments. The findings call for thoughtful design strategies to integrate AI responsibly, supporting ethical practices, promoting openness, and safeguarding the collaborative ethos of such communities.