I’ve Been Writing Personalized Books for 7 Years – Here Are 10 Ways to Spot an AI Knockoff

When I started writing for Hooray Heroes in 2018, there were no ChatGPT or DALL-E prompt fields in which to place requests for fast-food style instant art. Instead the ideas, feedback, and training came from inside my own head.

And to be fair, there’s no way to prove that we were ripped off. But compare our products to that of a competing company that came out after the emergence of AI and, well ... draw your own conclusions.

Anyway, using my own brain is still how I write Hooray Heroes personalized books – as well as ad copy, articles, and responses on social media – except now, I (and our whole art and marketing departments) stand constantly accused of exploiting trendy AI alternatives.

Our new personalized book for dogs has been such a huge undertaking, it might even seem logical to help ourselves with AI. But the truth is: we don’t. And to refute any skeptics (and deliver on my click-baity headline), here are 10 tell-tell signs to look for in personalized dog books created artificially.

1️⃣ The Artwork Feels… Off

AI art often looks polished at first glance, but look closer. Are those the puppy eyes of a fun-loving companion, or a lifeless composite? Do the paws have all the toes? Does the fur beg for your scratching? Being dog lovers themselves, our artists can capture your all dog’s quirks in ways no algorithm can.

Why it matters: Dogs aren’t generic. A human artist sees the personality and includes it in every brush stroke.

2️⃣ Repetitive Backgrounds

AI tools often reuse the same forest, beach, or urban backgrounds, and often with odd distortions or nonsensical lighting. Ask our artists about lighting and perspective and prepare for a half-hour lecture. You’ve been warned.

The human difference:  With a hand-illustrated book, each page is a unique setting tailored to your dog’s story. No cookie-cutter scenes here.

3️⃣ Generic Narratives & Rhyme Scheme

Many AI-generated books rely on recycled stories and obvious end-rhyme choices. The “Follow You Everywhere ” story in our new dog book, by contrast, is so random and silly that I was initially convinced that it didn’t belong in the book at all. At the moment, it’s the most commonly chosen story among readers.

The advantage of human “intelligence”:  I wrote this story while doing planks in my living room, with the challenge of ending the poem with the word “poop”. Good idea or not, the result is anything but copy/paste.

4️⃣ Emotional Disconnect

I’ll use AI to help me avoid traffic any day of the week. But when it comes to thinking about my kids growing up or how happy my dog is when I get home, I don’t find myself needing a data cruncher. It’s emotions and experience like this that resonate with our readers – and not reworded extracts from pet or parenting journals.

Why you’ll love a human-made book:  I draw from my own life, which other parents and dog owners usually find relatable.

5️⃣ Awkward Language

Even the most advanced AI can trip over grammar, tone, or phrasing, with even the most advanced AI using repetitive tripped-up grammar, tone, or phrasing. These grammar, tone, or phrasing trip-ups wouldn’t happen with a human writer. Never.

Real writers proofread and include silly meta examples to check how closely readers are following along.

6️⃣ Lack of Unique Customization Options

Offering a huge array of options is one area where AI does have an edge. However, these options come at the expense of being what-you-see-is-what-you-get. We on the other hand, actively engage with our readers and adapt what we offer to what is requested.

With artist-made books, there’s a real desire to please the end users. That’s the power of human care and connection.

7️⃣ Inconsistent Character Likeness

AI illustrations sometimes fail to keep your dog’s look consistent across pages. Ears can change size, dimensions can be distorted, and of course, there’s always the possibility of a sneaky double-tail.

The artist edge: Human illustrators make sure your dog is your dog—on every page, in every pose, from ear flop to tail wag.

8️⃣ Weird Limbs and Faces

Zoom in. Are the paws melting into the floor? Are the eyes looking in different directions? AI art is notorious for these glitches. To help our artists stay accurate (and just the right amount of distracted) we took care to invite some real-life models to take over our office.

Human artists know anatomy. They look at dogs, feed dogs, draw dogs, then feed dogs some more every day. And it shows.

9️⃣ No Signature Style

AI art mimics styles, but lacks originality. It borrows, blends, and blurs. We take special care so that whichever of our books you pick up – be it for your partner, your child, your mom, or your dog – there’s no mistaking that it’s been carefully crafted by Hooray Heroes.

A real artist’s book has personality. Each brushstroke, word choice, and font is turned every which way until we’re happy with the final look.

🔟 No Connection to a Creator

AI books come from nowhere. There’s no “about the artist,” no creative journey, no story behind the story.

Here's a picture of a dog who loves dog books made by dog people.

And if you’re like Ruby, then our new personalized book for dogs is a good choice for you.