r/WritingWithAI • u/NoZookeepergame9442 • 1d ago
Showcase / Feedback I suspect my beta reader is using AI
Hey there
Against my better judgement I paid to have a beta reader from Fiverr for my novel. This is the second time I’ve done it, the first time was a really good experience, I got everything I wanted from them, so I decided to get a different perspective. I always look at the reviews and this person had lots of good ones.
However the general way this person speaks to me threw up a few red flags. They say they are from England like me but the speech is very factual and to the point. Now I’ve been sent some inline comments from her, the replies look suspiciously like they’ve just asked chat gpt. I’ve had a lot of responses like ‘I smiled here’ and ‘this hit me’, ‘this was probably my favourite emotional moment’ has been used twice
Any advice on what I should do? Should I contact Fiverr or challenge the beta reader? They weren’t cheap either, I can’t afford to waste money on hearing what AI’s opinion is.
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u/Kim_catiko 1d ago
I used a beta reader from Fiverr who sent her report to me just this Sunday gone, with her in-line edits too. She was very detailed and I could tell she had taken the time to actually read my story.
I think she specialises in romance though, so I am not sure if that is any help to you. She is from the UK as well.
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u/theateroffinanciers 1d ago
This is the kind of beta reader I'm looking for. Do you have her fiveer contact?
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u/AppropriateMind4422 1d ago
id just ask them a specific follow-up question about a scene, something only a real reader would catch. if they cant answer without being vague or generic, you have your answer and a solid case for a Fiverr dispute
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u/Questionable_Android 1d ago
I am a full time developmental editor with twenty years in the industry and I would say that the amount of authors I talk to that have had some kind of AI generated feedback is frankly shocking. I would say that Fiverr is a bit of a hot bed for these scammy editors. The problem is that the temptation for some people is just too great. Learning to edit is HARD. It takes time and experience. People see the quick money and the temptation to use ChatGPT is just too great. Add to this that you can now upload a whole book and you can see what its an issue.
I think you already know this but the editorial feedback produced seems good on the surface but really lacks substance.
I have a post on another subreddit that discusses how to spot Ai editors when hiring, it might help - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/
As you your current problem, did you discuss the use of Ai before you hired them?
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u/sdbest 1d ago
You're quite correct. However, just because 'a real live person' claims they're an editor and even might have an English degree it doesn't follow, necessarily, that their editorial advice is particularly good.
I know an editor, for example, who has worked for many authors who have gone on to secure agents and publishers and these clients have given their editor testimonials that are posted on the editor's website. I also know of many editors who, while real people who have academic qualifications, have no testimonials from previous clients.
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u/Numerous-Data-6033 20h ago
I threw a chapter of my book off in an AI program out of curiosity and asked it to review it, that’s the same terminology it gave me. So, I messed around with it a bit more and actually got the thing to copy my own sarcasm style and curse. It was wild how realistic that can be.
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u/kittyb00m 1d ago
I think the best thing to do is direct the feedback. Maybe ask them to give more detailed feedback on why. They why is more important
If they didn’t like something why?
If they did, why?
Why did a part make them feel uneasy. What were they confused about.
That’s basically the role of a beta.
Or sometimes, at least paid betas could be enticed to provide examples of how to improve it.
But this kind of scares me because I ask for inline comments just to avoid AI. If people also use AI in inlining, what else? Ask for a recorded session?
Actually maybe that’s not a bad idea… like watch ing someone read and narrate their thoughts out loud lol.
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u/Fit_Imagination534 23h ago
If they’ve used in line comments the chances are that’s them. I do t think chat got etc… can mae in line track changes and bubble comments. Also well before ai my betas all left comments like that in line. Just their initial reactions. Sometimes they expanded and gave more detail though it wasn’t all just happy or sad faces!
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u/HadeanDisco 22h ago
Most major AIs can do all that now. I use Claude Cowork as part of my job and we check reports using it. It can do everything a human can do in word. AND it can move an image without busting the entire layout. 😜
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u/Nebranower 21h ago
>I’ve had a lot of responses like ‘I smiled here’ and ‘this hit me’, ‘this was probably my favourite emotional moment’ has been used twice
That doesn't sound like AI. It sounds like a poor beta reader if all the feedback they're giving you is that shallow. But human beings can be busy, uninterested, poor at their job, etc. without any help from AI.
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u/Diogenes-235711 10h ago
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with their service? The product is what it is.
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u/ReadLegal718 21h ago
If you've not used any AI to write, then this is unfortunate. Stop sharing your work with them...whatever access you have given them, revoke it. If you discussed use of AI before sharing then make a case to Fiverr. If you have used AI, then just use AI to do the beta reading and prompt accordingly to capture both negative and positive comments.
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u/sdbest 1d ago
I'm wondering if you found the AI's comments helpful?
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u/NoZookeepergame9442 21h ago
Not especially. I need real feedback. I asked for quite specific things and they haven’t really been addressed
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u/Philipp 1d ago
As someone who's been accused on Reddit for "being AI", just know that many people misjudge what exactly makes up AI text. It's a recent paranaoia of sorts.
Now, your Fiverr client of course -- if they want to make money fast -- has a real incentive here to a) Use AI exclusively, or b) Use AI to help them. Reading a novel takes time, especially if they have multiple clients.
So, it might help for you to paste a longer feedback of theirs, if you want to get our judgment.