Version July 2026

AIL Scale AI Involvement Level

A voluntary disclosure standard for authors to communicate how much artificial intelligence contributed to a written work. Each level describes what the AI performed and what the human author performed.

The scale

What this scale does not track. AI used purely as a research or search tool, such as looking up historical details, technical facts, or reference information, is treated the same as using Google or Bing. It is research, not authorship contribution. The scale tracks AI involvement in developing the story itself: planning, drafting, and editing the manuscript's actual content.

Authors may note a range (e.g. AIL-7 to AIL-8) if their process varied across the manuscript. For AIL-7 through AIL-11, report whether planning materials (outlines, character profiles, timelines, worldbuilding files) were developed independently or collaboratively with AI before drafting began. That is a separate question from who wrote the prose, and both should be reported honestly.

Find your level

A few questions to suggest where your process lands. It is only a suggestion; the scale is self-reported and the final call is yours.

Badge & statement

Pick a level or range, then copy a badge and disclosure statement for your book page, copyright page, or store listing.

About

The scale text and this site's code are open. View or reuse them on GitHub.

This scale is self-reported and reflects the author's honest assessment of their process.

This scale itself was developed collaboratively with AI (Claude), which is fitting given the subject matter. AIL-4ish, if we're being honest: every substantive decision was directed by the human author, and AI helped articulate and organize it.