The Mystery of the Inner Demon

Chapter 217 Human-Machine Sensitivity

"Just because of this?" Ji Peng scratched his cheek and said incredulously, "I didn't argue with him because a film and television company was interested in my novel and came to talk about buying the copyright. I didn't want to let arguing with this person affect my important matters, so I calmed down at the time."

"Just because of this?" Qi Fei still couldn't hide his doubt.

Ji Peng retorted, "What? Although it's not much, my novel still sold 500,000 copies!"

Wu Shanqiu laughed upon hearing this: "Five hundred thousand isn't much? More than enough to calm you down, right?"

"I admit that. I figured it out at the time. My work has already sold for 500,000. Facts speak louder than words. Why should I bother arguing with this kind of person about plagiarism?" Ji Peng said, straightening his back involuntarily.

"You said that everyone in your circle is talking about Hao Weiwei. In your memory, before and after your argument with him last year, was there anyone who expressed any intention to kill him?" Qi Fei asked.

"Officer, your question is too broad. This Hao Weiwei is a notorious bully; anyone who gets his eye on is doomed."

"Is it all because of plagiarism?"

"Heh, these are all excuses. Those who fawn over him say he's upholding justice, but only us humble little authors know that he's just using the guise of reporting plagiarism and inferior works to suppress new authors who compete with him. But you can't reason with people online. This 'Supreme' has successfully established himself as a sharp critic, and with his followers, he's practically a cyber gang. Once he speaks out and says an author or work is bad, it's usually very difficult for them to recover."

"I'm so grateful to my editor for sticking with me, and I was lucky enough to be chosen by a talent scout to adapt my work into a short drama. There are quite a few people in our circle who couldn't stand the cyberbullying he and his followers did, so they started writing under different pseudonyms or on different platforms." Ji Peng spoke of this matter with great indignation, his previous dazed state completely gone.

"I don't understand. Hao Weiwei isn't exactly a famous author himself. How come his words have such a strong appeal online?" Wu Shanqiu asked.

"That beautiful policewoman, you haven't written anything, so you don't know the ins and outs. Of course, his trashy writing won't become popular, but he's particularly good at reporting other people's work. For example, he reported me for plagiarism. Once he reports it, the platform has to monitor it. Luckily, I'm innocent and have nothing to hide, so I can withstand the investigation. Indeed, quite a few people do plagiarism and filler content. He reports them, and their works are taken down. Sometimes he not only reports them himself but also incites his followers to report them. Originally, authors had a chance to appeal, but how can a nobody like us fight against so many people? Even if the work isn't taken down, no one has the motivation to continue writing."

Moreover, with so many authors being victimized, word spread quickly, and fewer and fewer people dared to speak ill of the Supreme One online. He truly was the epitome of a rogue! At this point, Ji Peng seemed to remember something. "Speaking of which, I read the latest chapter of the book 'God of War.' The writing style isn't quite like mainstream online novels… He calls himself a cyber killer, but what I really want to say is that his writing style is very much like AI-generated."

"AI?" Qi Fei was both amused and exasperated by Ji Peng's words. "As expected of a writer, you have quite the imagination. Although I know that AI technology has been a hot topic lately, I'm sorry, but I can't believe you that AI killed Hao Weiwei."

But Ji Peng said seriously, "Recently, many AI-written novels have appeared on the platform. I've come across a few, and after reading more, I've noticed that the AI's style has its own unique characteristics. It's hard to describe, but it has a kind of logical yet absurd feel. In short, it's very different from what we humans write. These two articles gave me that feeling. How should I put it? There's a kind of perverse sense of death. The language seems quite concise, without much embellishment, but it just gives you a chilling feeling after reading it."

“Yes, yes, yes!” Wu Shanqiu agreed eagerly. “Your description is so accurate. I was wondering why it sounded a bit strange.”

Qi Fei glared at Wu Shanqiu with annoyance: "Stop joking. That article is obviously the murderer describing the process of the crime. If the text is AI, does that mean the murder is also AI? You don't mean to say that the cyber killer is a humanoid robot, do you? We're solving a case, not writing science fiction!"

Wu Shanqiu pouted: "Of course I know the murderer is alive, but the feeling Ji Peng described is exactly what I'm thinking. Doesn't Brother Fei feel the same way?"

Qi Fei frowned slightly. He was stumped by Wu Shanqiu's question because he couldn't deny that Ji Peng's "reflections" on those two articles were correct. He had also felt an indescribable sense of horror when he read them, but each sentence felt very plain and straightforward, without deliberately trying to create a terrifying atmosphere.

Qi Fei pondered for a moment, then looked at Ji Peng: "Can you write with AI?"

"Well, when AI writing software became popular in the second half of last year, I tried it out of curiosity. To be honest, I think it can't replace human writing at present. The things it generates seem plausible at first glance, but they can't stand up to scrutiny."

"Well, so I'd like to know, based on your experience, is it possible that the two pieces of content posted by the murderer were generated by AI?"

“Um…” Ji Peng hesitated for a moment before answering, “Anyway, if I were to use AI to write it, I couldn’t make it produce that kind of content. Your question makes this even more frightening. Because the style does resemble AI, but the content is far more organized than what AI could write.”

I think there are two possibilities: either this person is an AI expert who can make AI generate anything he wants, or he is deliberately imitating the writing style of AI.

"That's right!" Wu Shanqiu clapped her hands, suddenly realizing, "No matter which method you use, it perfectly conceals his writing style!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Peng immediately nodded in agreement: "You're right, this author's writing style is like a fingerprint, everyone's is different..." At this point, he realized something and looked back and forth between Qi Fei and Wu Shanqiu, "Ah! So the murderer is also an author?"

Qi Fei looked at Ji Peng expressionlessly: "That possibility cannot be ruled out. He is an author, just like you." He emphasized the word "author."

Just then, Wu Shanqiu's phone rang...