Everyone's Talking About Substack's AI Scanner. I Think They're Missing the Real Story

I've been watching all of the conversations surrounding Substack's new AI scanner, and I have to admit... I find the reaction far more interesting than the scanner itself.

Love the irony of AI checking for AI... but beyond that, I honestly think the whole thing is kind of silly.

Are some people going to go all in on AI? Of course they are. Just like there will be people who dig in their heels and refuse to touch it under any circumstances. That’s happened with every major technological shift we’ve experienced. Some people embraced computers. Others insisted they’d never need one. Then it was the internet. Then smartphones. Unless someone decides to go completely off-grid, technology has a funny way of corralling us into a place where we eventually have to decide whether we’re going to adapt or spend our time complaining that the world changed without asking our permission.

I’ve already published my AI statement, and beyond that, I simply don’t care. I’m not trying to hide that I use AI. I also don’t feel the need to apologize for it. It’s a tool. One of many. The quality of what I publish is still my responsibility, just as it always has been.

What fascinates me far more than the scanner itself is why Substack chose to make such a public announcement about it. To me, this feels like a classic case of virtue signaling. Whether that’s actually their intention, I obviously can’t know, but that’s certainly how it comes across to me.

AI simply isn’t what most people are talking about when they talk about why they love Substack. They talk about the writers they’ve discovered, the conversations in the comments, the communities they’ve found, and the freedom to write without chasing an algorithm. That’s the heart of Substack. This scanner feels like a very small piece of the platform that’s suddenly being treated like the main event.

The irony, though, is hard to ignore.

Substack is using AI to determine whether something was written with AI.

I actually laughed when I thought about that. We now have artificial intelligence judging artificial intelligence so humans can decide whether they trust what another human wrote. If that doesn’t make you smile just a little, I don’t know what will.

And yes... before anyone points it out... I used AI to help me write my AI disclosure statement.

Insert dramatic eye roll here.

What I also find interesting is the amount of attention this has generated. Whether you agree with the decision or completely disagree, people are talking about Substack. Writers are posting about it. People who have never heard of Substack are suddenly hearing its name because everyone has an opinion. Controversy has been a marketing strategy for as long as I can remember. Facebook figured that out years ago. People engage when they’re emotionally invested, and nothing creates engagement quite like giving people something to argue about.

Do I think this scanner is going to change what people read?

Not really.

The people who genuinely care about thoughtful writing aren’t waiting for an AI detector to tell them what deserves their attention. They already know whose work they enjoy. They subscribe because they trust the person behind the words. They come back because that writer consistently makes them think, teaches them something, encourages them, or simply tells good stories.

On the other side, the people who are perfectly happy consuming generic, mass-produced content probably aren’t going to change their habits because of a scanner either.

If someone wants to publish entirely AI-generated articles, they’re going to do it. If someone refuses to use AI for anything, they’ll continue doing that too. I honestly don’t think this announcement moves either group very much.

Can I tell you about my 90 yr old dad? He loves AI Slop on Youtube - he watches those “stories” that are AI generated, have static AI images and an AI voice - not even the good ones. It drives me crazy - but he will sit and listen to them for hours.

His favorite are the Karen stories - Karen is the HOA director doing all kinds of illegal stuff. He especially loves when the underdog is someone in the military.

I tell you this to illustrate there is a market for AI Slop and so long as there is a market for something - that something is going to exist.

What concerns me more is the idea that we’ve somehow convinced ourselves that AI is the thing we need to detect. I don’t think AI is the problem. Mediocre writing is the problem. Generic ideas are the problem. Saying nothing of value is the problem. AI didn’t invent boring content. We’ve had boring content for centuries.

I suspect this announcement is largely intended to placate a particular group of writers who believe there’s only one legitimate way to create. Every creative community seems to have them. They’re often passionate, vocal, and deeply convinced that their process is the “right” one. They’re certainly entitled to that opinion. I’m equally entitled to mine.

My opinion is that readers are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for.

Most of us can tell when something feels empty. We don’t need a scanner to figure that out. We also know when a piece of writing feels personal, thoughtful, and authentic, regardless of whether the author brainstormed with a notebook, ChatGPT, Claude, or while walking their dog.

At the end of the day, I don’t subscribe to people because they used - or didn’t use - a particular tool.

I subscribe because they consistently create something worth reading.

That’s always been the part that mattered to me, and I don’t see this new scanner changing that one bit.

I’ll save you the trouble of scanning this article … AI was definitely involved. Trust me you don’t want me without AI’s filter to reign me in and/or correct my spelling.

If this resonates with you and you’re looking for community to grow your Substack with other real human beings interested in real conversations and collaborations, pop on by and check us out on Skool …

Yes, we’re called the Client Acquisition for Coaches Community - but really, we are building the You World Order…

With love & clarity,
Jill Hart💜The Coach’s Alchemist

Amplify Your Voice • Monetize Your Mission • Get Visible

Hi, I’m Jill Hart, The Coach’s Alchemist. I help spiritual entrepreneurs and coaches amplify their voice, attract aligned clients, and monetize their mission through Substack and podcasting.

If you’ve been creating content but not seeing it turn into conversations, clients, or consistent income, Client Acquisition For Coaches is for you.

It’s where we simplify visibility, build authority, and create a clear path from your content to your offers without chasing algorithms or trying to be everywhere.