How do I use the Substack AI detector?

Readers can analyze content longer than 100 words by choosing the "Scan for AI text" option from the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of a post. The tool is available now on the web and iOS app, with Android launching soon.

What can the AI detector tell me?

The tool provides an estimate of how much text could be AI-generated or written with AI assistance. However, Pangram can only detect whether AI was used to make the text, not whether great human care went into creating it or whether AI tools were used only as a source.

Can writers use the tool themselves?

Yes, writers can scan their own drafts with Pangram and will have an option to report inaccurate results. Substack is also introducing a new "How I make this" statement so creators can explain their writing process to readers.

Large Language ModelsAI Safety & AlignmentThe Verge AIJul 21, 2026Jul 22, 2026, 06:00 JST

Substack adds AI detector to scan posts for machine-generated text

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3 Key Points

What happened
Substack is rolling out a tool powered by AI detection company Pangram that scans posts, notes, replies, and comments to estimate how much text may be AI-generated or written with AI assistance. The feature is available on the web and iOS app now, with Android coming soon; readers can analyze content longer than 100 words from the three-dot menu.
Why it matters
Substack co-founder Chris Best frames the tool as a transparency measure to address what he calls "Claudefishing" — when readers unknowingly invest attention in content with "no human thought on the other end." The concern is that platforms rewarding fakeness could undermine trust in authorship and threaten writers' livelihoods, even those using AI tools thoughtfully.
What to watch
Creators can also use Pangram to scan their own drafts and will have an option to report inaccurate results. Substack is introducing a new "How I make this" statement so writers can explain their writing process to readers. Pangram can detect AI use but cannot assess whether great human care went into the work or whether AI was used only as a source.

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Context & Analysis

The move reflects Substack's effort to preserve trust on a platform increasingly populated by AI-generated content. Chris Best frames the problem not as AI use itself, but as misalignment between reader expectation and reality — specifically when readers unknowingly consume content with "no human thought on the other end." Best calls this "Claudefishing," signaling concern that without intervention, platforms could spiral into a "race to the bottom" where fakeness is rewarded and human writers' livelihoods suffer. The integration with Pangram, a specialized AI detection company, suggests Substack is treating this as a core feature rather than a minor experiment. By pairing detection with a creator-facing "How I make this" statement, Substack is trying to create space for transparent AI use — writers who use AI tools thoughtfully can explain their process — while helping readers distinguish intentional collaboration from undisclosed automation.

FAQ

How do I use the Substack AI detector?: Readers can analyze content longer than 100 words by choosing the "Scan for AI text" option from the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of a post. The tool is available now on the web and iOS app, with Android launching soon.
What can the AI detector tell me?: The tool provides an estimate of how much text could be AI-generated or written with AI assistance. However, Pangram can only detect whether AI was used to make the text, not whether great human care went into creating it or whether AI tools were used only as a source.
Can writers use the tool themselves?: Yes, writers can scan their own drafts with Pangram and will have an option to report inaccurate results. Substack is also introducing a new "How I make this" statement so creators can explain their writing process to readers.

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