OpenClarify is a simple, voluntary labeling system that helps creators tell readers how their content was made. It doesn’t judge quality. It doesn’t rank credibility. It doesn’t verify or police authors. It simply makes the creation process more visible.
OpenClarify is not about apology or defensiveness. Using AI tools can be thoughtful, skilled and genuinely creative work. Many creators are doing their best work with AI in the loop – and they deserve to be able to say so openly, without stigma.
In a world where human writing, AI-assisted writing, and AI-generated content increasingly overlap, OpenClarify offers a clear, honest signal: this is how this piece came to be.
Why OpenClarify Exists Today
AI tools are everywhere – in writing, research, design, coding and editing. Many creators use them daily. Many readers can often tell when they’ve been used. And yet, most content still appears with no acknowledgment at all.
That creates a quiet tension: Not because using AI is “cheating”. Not because AI makes content worthless. But because readers are left guessing and creators are left hiding something that doesn’t need to be hidden – and doesn’t need to be apologised for.
OpenClarify exists to change that culture.
We believe: Using AI tools is not something to be ashamed of
Being honest about your process builds trust
Transparency beats pretending nothing has changed
Good work doesn’t become less valuable because better tools were used
What OpenClarify Is (and Isn’t)
OpenClarify is:
A voluntary disclosure system
A simple set of labels anyone can use
A way to signal how something was created, at a glance without apology or judgement
A cultural nudge toward honesty, not a technical enforcement system
OpenClarify is not:
A proof-of-origin or verification framework
A detector, auditor, or policing tool
A judgment on quality, effort, or value
A way to shame or rank creators
If someone lies about their label, OpenClarify can’t stop that – and that’s intentional. This is about norms, not enforcement.
The Three Labels
OpenClarify uses three clear, human-readable labels:
AI+ Assist – Primarily human-authored, with AI used for drafting, editing, brainstorming or refinement.
AI Gen – Primarily AI-generated, with human prompting, selection, or light editing.
Human Only – Created without AI tools being used in the process.
They don’t say whether something is “good” or “bad”. They just say what happened.
Why This Matters
We’re at the beginning of a huge shift in how knowledge, stories and ideas are created.
AI tools are:
Accelerating research and writing
Lowering barriers to entry
Helping people think, draft, and refine
Changing creative workflows permanently
And like every major technological shift before it, they’re also:
Being misunderstood
Being politicised
Being feared before they’re fully understood
Meanwhile, society happily accepts CGI in films, digital tools in music, spellcheck, editors and collaborative writing. Software in every creative and technical field but when it comes to AI, we often pretend it’s either a dirty secret, an existential threat or something that must be hidden to be “taken seriously.”
OpenClarify takes a different stance:
Use the tools. Be honest about it. Let readers decide what they care about and don’t treat modern workflows like something to be embarrassed about.
Trust Through Honesty, Not Illusions
OpenClarify doesn’t promise “proof”. It offers something simpler and more human: good faith transparency. When creators openly say, “Here’s how this was made,” they respect their audience and normalize modern workflows. They also reduce suspicion and guesswork and help build healthier norms around AI use.
Trust isn’t built by pretending tools don’t exist. It’s built by acknowledging reality and being upfront about it.
Who Is OpenClarify For?
Writers, bloggers, journalists and researchers
Artists, designers and creators
Developers and technical writers
Publishers and platforms
Anyone who wants to be honest about their process
If you use AI tools: you can say so. If you don’t, you can say that too. If you mix and match, there’s a label for that.
A Cultural Shift, Not a Technical Fix
OpenClarify isn’t here to “solve” AI. It’s here to help shape a healthier, more honest culture around how we use it. One where tools aren’t taboo, transparency isn’t risky and honesty isn’t punished, just… normal.
Call to Action
You can use the OpenClarify labels freely on your site, your work or your projects. Use the label that accurately reflects your process. Don’t change their meaning. Don’t imply endorsement.
That’s it.