Loch Ness · HUMAN WRITING · Human-written labels
Part of the guide: Do AI Detectors Actually Work? What the Research Says
By Camille G., founder of Loch Ness · Published September 29, 2026 · Last updated September 29, 2026
Short answer: human-written labels come in two kinds. Self-declared ones, where you state that you wrote the work and nobody checks, and verified ones, where someone looks at evidence first. Both have their place. What matters is that readers can tell which one they’re looking at.
Human Origin Label · For writers and bloggers Want a label readers can actually check? One review of your writing process, live or in a screen recording, and a numbered badge that links to a public verification page. Get verified, it’s free → Not ready for a review? Get the free self-declared badge →Authors Guild: Human Authored
The US Authors Guild launched its Human Authored certification in January 2025. Authors register a book through a portal, sign a license and receive a unique, numbered mark for covers and marketing; registered books appear in a public database (Publishers Weekly). It was first open to Guild members and single-author books, then expanded to non-members for $10 per title, for books published in the US, in partnership with the UK’s Society of Authors (Indie Author Magazine).
The key detail: certification works on the honor system. The Guild doesn’t analyze manuscripts; it relies on the author’s signed statement and says it will act against misuse. Industry commentator Jane Friedman raised exactly this concern, and published the Guild’s response (Jane Friedman). It’s a strong, recognizable mark for books, built on trust rather than checks.
Not By AI
Not By AI offers badges that creators add to websites, books and other work. It is explicitly self-declared: the project says it is not an AI detection tool, and creators are responsible for following its rule that the work is at least 90% human-made (Not By AI). It’s widely used and easy to adopt, and makes no claim of verification.
Human Origin
This is the label I built, so weigh this paragraph accordingly. Human Origin has two levels. The orange self-declared badge is free and open to anyone, and says clearly that it wasn’t checked. The green badge is issued only after a review of your writing process, live on video or from a screen recording that includes a one-time code. It carries a unique number linked to a public verification page, and it is revoked, turning red wherever it’s displayed, if the rules are broken.
Side by side
| Authors Guild Human Authored | Not By AI | Human Origin (green) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | Books | Any creative work | Writing, art, photo, music, video |
| Who checks | Honor system, signed license | Self-declared | A reviewer looks at your process |
| Public record | Public database of certified books | None | Numbered verification page |
| If misused | Enforcement on discovery | Creator’s responsibility | Revoked, badge turns red everywhere |
| Cost | Free for members, $10 per title otherwise | See their site | Free during the pilot |
How to choose
- You publish books in the US: Human Authored is the mark your readers and booksellers are most likely to recognize.
- You want a quick public statement: a self-declared badge does the job, as long as it says it’s self-declared.
- You’ve been doubted before, or your clients need proof: go for a label where someone has actually looked at your process, and that readers can check.
Nothing stops you from combining them. A self-declared statement and a verified badge answer different questions.
For a sourced, side-by-side comparison of all the main human-made labels, across every discipline and not just books, see the full comparison of human-made labels.
Before you pick a label, make sure you’re clear on where the line is when writing with AI. And for the bigger picture on detectors and why proof beats scores: do AI detectors actually work?.
A label readers can check, not just trust. Apply for a free review →Full disclosure: Human Origin, the label mentioned on this page, is something I created. I’m flagging it so you can weigh what I say about it. The facts above rest on the sources below.
Sources
- Publishers Weekly — Authors Guild rolls out “Human Authored” certification program
- Indie Author Magazine — US, UK author societies join forces to help identify human-authored works
- Jane Friedman — My concerns about the Authors Guild Human Authored certification, and their response
- AP via Yahoo News — Authors Guild sets up “Human Authored” portal
- Not By AI — official website
Update log
September 29, 2026 — First publication.
About the author — Camille G., founder of Loch Ness
Full-stack developer and self-taught jewelry maker from 2013 to 2024, Camille designs and codes every interactive experience on Loch Ness Lab — from the healing crystal bracelet configurator to the free tools at lochness-paris.com/apps, including the research behind the creativity test’s scoring algorithm.