Crime Writer Ajay Chowdhury Uses AI as Creative Editor

Monday, June 22, 2026

Crime author Ajay Chowdhury has integrated AI tools like ChatGPT into his writing process to provide editorial feedback and generate alternative plot ideas without relying on them to produce prose. His use of AI as a creative partner highlights a trend among writers to adopt technology for idea development while maintaining traditional authorship and editorial standards.

Crime author Ajay Chowdhury has increasingly incorporated artificial intelligence into his creative process, using it primarily as a tool for editorial feedback and idea development rather than for generating prose. Known for his Kamil Rahman series, Chowdhury began experimenting with AI in 2023 and now relies on it extensively to support his writing.

Chowdhury characterizes AI, particularly ChatGPT, as an “editor on demand,” a resource that allows him to engage in a form of dialogue similar to interactions with a human editor. He uses the technology to work through moments when he feels creatively stuck, posing questions and exploring different narrative directions. Although he discards the vast majority of AI-generated suggestions, occasionally the responses spark ideas that influence the plot or character development.

Despite the potential of AI-driven writing tools, Chowdhury does not employ them to produce his novels, citing concerns about the quality of AI-generated prose and questioning the value of outsourcing this aspect of his work. Instead, he leverages AI to generate alternative outcomes for specific plot points, such as devising methods for a character to escape peril using unconventional resources like fertiliser and gardening tools. He has also used AI to restructure passages to enhance pacing and to generate images that stimulate his imagination.

When seeking feedback from AI, Chowdhury emphasizes the importance of framing questions to elicit honest critiques rather than overly positive responses, acknowledging the tendency of chatbots to offer confirmation-biased answers. He finds that the input from AI often aligns closely with the feedback he receives from his professional editor at Penguin, reinforcing the utility of AI as a supplementary creative partner rather than a replacement for human editorial insight.

Chowdhury’s approach reflects a growing interest among authors in the publishing industry to harness AI tools to complement traditional writing practices, experimenting with technology to enhance creativity without compromising the author’s voice and craftsmanship.