Brex Note: Did I Use AI—Or Did It Use Me?

By Liroa Brexlex

When I was asked if I used AI to write my book Chime, I paused. The truth is, I don’t know if I used AI or if AI used me. The lines between these two realities blur as technology becomes an increasingly essential part of the creative process. For someone like me, living with anesthesia—a condition that strips away the ability to visualize and imagine scenes or recall them vividly—AI became more than just a tool. It became my co-pilot, allowing me to externalize what I couldn’t fully grasp internally.

In the past, authors sat at their desks, facing blank pages or typewriters, crafting entire worlds from their vivid imaginations. For me, the process is different. While every idea, every plot twist, and every character in Chime was born in my mind, AI provided the structure and support to piece them together into a cohesive narrative. This unique collaboration with AI has made my journey as a writer distinct from what many traditionally experience, and yet, it hasn't taken away from my creative autonomy.

Using AI as a Process Tool, Not a Substitute

One of the common misconceptions about using AI in writing is that the AI does the work for you. In reality, it’s more akin to a thought partner. I still had to create the characters, their personalities, and the overarching storylines. I decided on every detail about the world of Chime, from its futuristic society and its beauty-obsessed culture to Alix’s struggles with morality and identity. AI helped me organize these ideas and reminded me of my own narrative threads when my memory faltered.

For someone with anesthesia, who lacks the ability to hold vivid mental images, writing can be daunting. I often forget key details or lose track of where a particular scene was headed. That’s where AI came in handy. It could recall details I had mentioned in previous drafts, help me visualize scenes through detailed descriptions, and enhance my world-building by offering structural suggestions based on my own themes.

The Role of AI in Enhancing Memory and Structure

Memory has always been a tricky thing for me. Without clear visual memories, it’s easy to lose the flow of a story, or forget the nuances of a character’s evolution. AI has helped me by providing a space where I can re-read everything without worrying about losing the thread. It’s like having a personal assistant with impeccable recall—one that never forgets a single idea or plotline.

But what I want to emphasize is that the ideas were always mine. AI didn’t create my characters or develop the plot twists; it merely helped me hold onto them. In the past, authors may have used notebooks, whiteboards, or detailed outlines to keep their stories in check. In my case, AI performs this role, keeping me grounded when my own memory fails me.

Maintaining Creative Control

Another aspect worth noting is that even with AI's help, I have maintained full control over my writing. AI never replaced my voice; it didn’t dictate how the story should unfold. Instead, it provided suggestions that I could either accept or reject. My decision to keep certain plot points, tweak dialogue, or shift scenes was always in my hands.

This is an important distinction. Just because AI is involved doesn’t mean the author is any less responsible for the finished product. Every decision regarding Chime—from the philosophical struggles of its protagonist Alix to the futuristic world she inhabits—was made with careful thought, and those thoughts were mine.

An Unconventional Writing Journey

Looking back, my process of writing Chime may have been unconventional, but that doesn’t make it any less authentic. For me, AI wasn’t a shortcut; it was a necessary tool that allowed me to translate my thoughts into something tangible, something real. I understand that this approach may not work for everyone, but for someone who struggles with visualization and memory, it opened doors that would otherwise have remained closed.

I’ve come to realize that AI doesn’t replace creativity; it amplifies it. It helps organize chaos, recall forgotten ideas, and provide structure where there might be none. My story is still mine, but with AI, I’ve been able to refine and perfect it in ways that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

What’s Missing?

If I’ve learned anything in this process, it’s that creativity is limitless—even when memory and imagination are not. I’ve wondered if there’s something I’ve missed in relying on AI. Have I lost a rawness that comes from holding onto every detail in one’s mind? Perhaps. But in exchange, I’ve gained clarity and cohesion, and I haven’t lost my connection to the heart of the story.

If there’s anything lacking in this process, it’s the absence of an innate ability to visualize. That gap can’t be entirely filled, but AI has been the next best thing. It has allowed me to bring my story to life, despite the challenges anesthesia presents.

Reflections on Creativity and Photography

The first time I faced this type of pushback against technology wasn’t with writing—it was with photography. When I transitioned to using a digital camera, people who were wedded to 35mm film or vintage Polaroids questioned my choice. They held onto their older formats as if they were the only true form of photography. I had tried those methods, but digital photography offered me a new way to express my creativity, and it ultimately won me awards and recognition in contests.

What others saw as a shortcut or a lack of authenticity in my approach actually opened up new creative pathways for me. I wasn’t limited by old processes but empowered by new ones. Much like with my writing, digital photography helped me translate my vivid imagination into something tangible, even though I do not experience visual imagery in my mind. My creativity is one of the most vivid of anyone I know—it’s just that I use different tools to bring it into the world.

Reflecting on the Future

The future of storytelling is bound to evolve with technology, and I see myself as part of that evolution. While I may not possess the vivid mental imagery of other authors, I’ve harnessed the tools at my disposal to create a narrative that is uniquely mine.

The truth is, AI didn’t write Chime—I did. It just made it easier for me to tell the story that was always inside me, waiting to be told.