Researchers from a coalition of West Coast universities have found that AI is changing the style and substance of human writing, altering responses from 100 participants to those who only partially or entirely avoid using large language models (LLMs). The study found that users who heavily relied on LLMs produced essays that were significantly different from those who did not use AI or only used AI for light edits. The researchers also found that heavy reliance on AI systems also altered the style of users’ output, causing their language to become less personal and more formal. The research has been peer-reviewed and accepted to an upcoming workshop at a leading AI conference. The study also examined differences in how AI systems edited another set of essays compared to humans and how AI use affects the criteria scientists use to judge whether papers should be accepted to leading AI conferences.