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Coauthored Content
When AI generates text that humans meaningfully reshape. The final work reflects genuine human judgment and creative direction, built on an AI foundation.
What A3 Coauthored Means
A3 represents a true collaboration between human and machine. AI has generated substantive text that appears in the final output, but a human has done more than simply review it. They've actively reshaped, restructured, and refined the content to meet their standards and vision.
AI's Contribution
- Generated initial drafts or passages
- Translated content between languages
- Produced text that remains in the final version
- Provided structural or technical scaffolding
Human's Contribution
- Substantially edited and rewrote sections
- Made meaningful creative decisions
- Verified accuracy and appropriateness
- Shaped the final voice and message
The key distinction from A2 (Assisted): In A3, AI-generated text appears in the published work. The key distinction from A4 (Reviewed): In A3, the human did more than read and fact-check. They actively transformed the content.
Examples That Fit A3
AI-Drafted Paragraphs, Human-Rewritten
A blogger uses AI to generate a first draft of an article, then rewrites significant portions, adds personal anecdotes, adjusts the tone, and restructures the argument. The final piece contains AI-originated sentences alongside human additions.
Machine Translation with Native Speaker Review
A document is translated by AI from Spanish to English. A native English speaker reviews it, corrects awkward phrasing, adjusts idioms for cultural appropriateness, and ensures the meaning is preserved. This is the textbook A3 use case.
Technical Documentation with AI First Drafts
A technical writer uses AI to draft API documentation, then extensively edits for accuracy, adds clarifying examples, reorganizes sections for better flow, and ensures terminology matches company standards.
Marketing Copy with Heavy Human Editing
A marketing team generates product descriptions with AI, then a copywriter refines them, adjusts the brand voice, adds emotional appeals, and ensures compliance with advertising standards. The AI structure remains but with significant human polish.
Research Summaries, Human-Verified and Expanded
A researcher uses AI to summarize academic papers, then verifies each claim against sources, adds their own analysis, corrects any AI misinterpretations, and weaves summaries into a coherent literature review.
Who's Accountable?
The human takes full responsibility for accuracy, meaning, and appropriateness. They shaped AI output into something they personally stand behind. If errors exist, if the tone is wrong, if facts are misrepresented, the human author owns that outcome.
This is what separates A3 from higher levels: the human has invested enough effort and judgment that they can credibly claim co-authorship and accept accountability for the result.
Why Disclose A3?
Acknowledges AI's Substantive Role
Unlike A2 where AI only assisted, A3 recognizes that AI text appears in the final work. This honesty builds trust with readers who can form accurate expectations.
Sets Appropriate Reader Expectations
Readers know this content was crafted collaboratively. They can appreciate the human judgment applied while understanding the AI foundation.
Required by Many Publication Standards
Academic journals, news organizations, and professional publications increasingly require AI disclosure. A3 demonstrates compliance while highlighting human oversight.
Honest About Collaborative Creation
A3 represents the future of much content creation: genuine human-AI collaboration. Disclosing it normalizes responsible AI use and sets an ethical standard.
"Coauthored content isn't lesser content. It's content where humans had the wisdom to use AI as a tool and the integrity to say so."
How A3 Differs from Adjacent Levels
Assisted
AI helped brainstorm or edit, but the human wrote the draft. No AI-generated text in final output.
Coauthored
AI wrote passages. Human substantially reshaped and is accountable for the final result.
Reviewed Output
AI generated it. Human did a read and fact-check but didn't substantially rewrite.