Online Storytelling Spaces - Exploring Participants’ Perceptions of Overt and Covert AI Agents

Aug 21, 2026

Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly reshaping online collaborative storytelling communities where creativity, social interaction, and participatory engagement previously depended on shared interests and a strong sense of community. The introduction of overt and covert AI agents—either openly acknowledged tools or subtly embedded systems—changes how stories are co-created and circulated. Research examines fanfiction participants’ perceptions of impacts on authenticity, originality, transparency, trust, inclusivity, and the collaborative spirit.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

1. Introduction

Generative AI in online creative settings

Fanfiction communities as a research context

Online Storytelling Spaces: Exploring Participants’Perceptions of Overt and Covert AI Agents Roi Alfassi1 , Angelora Cooper2, Zoe Mitchel2, Mary Calabro2, Orit Shaer2 and Osnat Mokryn1, * 2 Wellesley College, Wellesley,MA,USA 1 University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel Abstract Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly transforming online collaborative environments, such as online storytelling communities, where creativity and social interaction thrive. Participatory engagement, shared interests, anda sense of community have long characterized such spaces. The entry of overt and covert AI agents—tools and systems explicitly acknowledged or subtly integrated—introduces new dynamics that challenge traditional practices. Overt AI agents, such as story suggestion tools or automated writing assistants, offer visible contributions that can enhance creative output but may alter the perception of authenticity and originality. In contrast, covert AI agents, operating behind the scenes to create engagement, shape content recommendations, or simulate user behavior, raise questions about transparency and trust. Both types of AI disrupt established norms of collaboration by influencing how stories are co-created and shared among users. This research focuses on the views and perceptions of participants within fanfiction communities regarding these developments. It examines how technological shifts impact the essence of online creative spaces. Participants shared concerns about diminished human connections and the potential erosion of collaborative spirit when AI participation is not openly acknowledged. They emphasized the importance of preserving transparency and ensuring that AI systems enhance, rather than undermine, the values ofinclusivity, engagement, and mutual creativity that define these environments. The findings call for thoughtful design strategies to integrate AI responsibly, supporting ethical practices, promoting openness, and safeguarding the collaborative ethos of such communities. Keywords Storytelling, Overt and Covert AI Agents, Participatory community, GenAI 1. Introduction Recent advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) are significantly reshaping creative practices, particularly through the integration of overt and covert AI agents in online settings. These technologies are raising critical questions about authorship, originality, and the collaborative dynamics of creative communities. Human-GenAI co-creation has demonstrated its potential to expand creative possibilities, with users describing it as a means of enhancing their imaginative capacity and enabling new ways of thinking [1] . However, concerns remain about how these tools influence critical aspects of creative processes, such as the participatory dynamics of collaborative spaces [2, 3] . Storytelling and fanfiction communities offer a unique opportunity to study the integration of AI technologies within a vibrant, collaborative creative space. Fanfiction (fanfic) refers to stories written to engage with popular narratives and media, often drawing on traditions of oral storytelling [5] . During the last two decades, fanifc communities, rooted in fandoms that have existed for decades, have evolved into expansive online networks, facilitated by platforms like Archive of Our Own (AO3), which hosts over 14 million works spanning more than 68,000 fandoms [6] . The participatory nature of fanfiction encourages writers and readers to reimagine existing narratives, exchange feedback, and collectively build new interpretations of fictional worlds [7, 8] . Joint Proceedings of the ACM IUI Workshops 2025, March 24-27, 2025, Cagliari, Italy * Corresponding author. $ [roialfassi@gmail.com](roialfassi@gmail.com) (R. Alfassi); [acooper5@wellesley.edu](acooper5@wellesley.edu) (A. Cooper); [zm2@wellesley.edu](zm2@wellesley.edu) (Z. Mitchel); [mc111@wellesley.edu](mc111@wellesley.edu) (M. Calabro); [oshaer@wellesley.edu](oshaer@wellesley.edu) (

FAQs

What are overt and covert AI agents in online storytelling spaces?

Overt AI agents are explicitly acknowledged tools that contribute to creation, such as story suggestions or writing assistants. Covert AI agents are integrated behind the scenes, shaping engagement, recommendations, or simulated user behavior without being openly identified.

How do AI agents affect participants’ views of authorship and originality?

Participants reported that overt agents can be useful for creative output but may alter perceptions of authenticity and the role of human authorship. Concerns also focus on whether contributions remain original and credible within community norms.

Why is transparency important to participants in fanfiction communities?

Transparency was described as critical for maintaining trust, transparency in creation or curation, and community reliability. Hidden operations of covert systems were associated with concerns about manipulation, bias, and homogenization of creative output.

Aug 21, 2026

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