How to Avoid AI Plagiarism

Worried that using AI might get you in trouble for copyright infringement? Or that you might accidentally copy someone else’s work without even knowing it?

It's called accidental plagiarism—and it’s an actual risk when using AI.

Tools like ChatGPT tap into vast databases of knowledge and content (including online posts, user inputs, and more) to generate outputs. While the technical details aren’t my expertise as a copywriter, what is within my wheelhouse is knowing how to use AI responsibly so you never unintentionally steal someone else’s work.

In this post, I’m sharing 3 strategies to safeguard the originality of your content—even when using AI.

Strategy 1: Fuel AI With Detailed Prompts

You’ve probably heard “garbage in, garbage out” when it comes to AI. The key isn’t just avoiding garbage—it’s feeding your AI with gold.

If you want to leverage AI without risking accidental plagiarism, arm it with detailed, thoughtful inputs that sound like you.

For instance, if I need a social media post on “How to Write Better Taglines,” I don’t just say, “write me a social media post on how to write better taglines.”

Instead, I start with a brain dump—a stream-of-consciousness prompt that lays out all my ideas. I might say:

“The goal of a tagline is to provide clarity and information that cannot fit into an offer title. It should be short, punchy, and memorable but also clear. One framework I use for taglines is: [name of offer] is for [ideal clients] who want [desired outcome] without [pain point]. Could you please write a short social media caption to explain this? Be sure to include an attention-grabbing hook and put it into context for my wellness practitioner audience.”

There’s nothing magical about this prompt—it simply guides the AI to produce content that comes from my own thought leadership instead of recycling random ideas from the digital ethers.

Let’s get practical with this. Here are some specific ways to fuel AI with gold instead of garbage:

Brain Dump First
Open your chat window and let your ideas flow. Don’t worry about perfect spelling or punctuation—imagine you’re talking to a copywriting expert who will later refine your raw thoughts into high-converting copy.

Include Specifics
Alongside your brain dump, provide details about your target audience and project goals. The more context you give, the more precisely the AI can tailor its output.

Share your Frameworks
Your unique methods and processes set you apart. These are the un-copyable parts of your thought leadership. Make sure the AI knows exactly what makes your approach special.

Provide Templates
I’ve relied on copywriting templates for years to craft standout copy for myself and my clients. I have an ever-growing library of formulas, prompts, and frameworks that I tap into when using AI. By feeding AI with these templates, you not only get more consistent and reliable output, but you also dramatically reduce the risk of accidental copying.

Be Conversational
ChatGPT mirrors the tone and style of your inputs. If you speak in a conversational way without guarding or filtering yourself, you’ll be more likely to get outputs that sound like you over time.

Once you’ve set the stage with these detailed prompts, you can move on to the next strategy.

Strategy 2: Tweak the AI Outputs

Even the best AI outputs need some finessing. Once you’ve got your initial output, it’s time to make it unmistakably yours. Here’s how:

Take it Section by Section
AI can produce heaps of content in one go. Instead of tackling the whole thing at once, work on one chunk at a time. This makes it easier on your mind—and your nervous system.

Step Away & Refresh
Sometimes, a short break is all you need. Stepping away from the computer lets your ideas settle, so you return with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective.

Infuse Your Thought Leadership
Look for spots where you can weave in your signature phrases and insights. Swap out generic expressions for language that resonates with your unique voice and speaks directly to your ideal clients.

Switch Out Words
Literally switching out a word here or there can make it more unique to you.

Delete the Excess
Remember Strunk and White’s timeless advice: “omit needless words.” AI often produces more text than necessary. Cutting out the fluff not only tightens your copy but also makes it sound more natural.

Edit in a Separate Document
Pasting your AI draft into a new document gives you the mental space to edit without the pressure of losing your original work. If you have access to ChatGPT’s “Canvas” feature, you can use that instead.

Taking a bit of time to fine-tune your AI outputs dramatically reduces your risk of accidental plagiarism. Plus, it nearly negates the risk of your content being recognized by an “AI checker” or feeling robotic to your real human clients.

Strategy 3: Use a Plagiarism Checker

We all know that you are not intentionally copying anyone’s work. That’s why it’s called accidental plagiarism.

While the risk becomes negligible if you provide detailed inputs to your AI tool and tweak the outputs, sometimes it’s nice to have one final layer of protection for peace of mind.

That’s what AI plagiarism checkers are for.

These tools scan your content for two key things: patterns that resemble generic AI-generated text and exact matches with existing published material.

I personally lean on Grammarly (since its plagiarism checker comes with my subscription), but there are many other options too. 

(Other people have done much more thorough analyses of different AI plagiarism detectors for the curious mind!)

Keep in mind that these tools aren’t perfect.

Sometimes they report “false positive” results—meaning they detect plagiarism that just isn’t there. For example, I had a plagiarism detector tell me that the phrase “write out your ideas in a stream of consciousness” was a plagiarized phrase. Obviously it is just something I would naturally say and that somebody else might naturally say as well.

So at the end of the day?

You are the human, and you make the call.

AI & Plagiarism FAQs

1. Do I need to cite that I used an AI tool like ChatGPT?
Generally, no—especially when you're using AI with heavy human involvement for marketing content like social media posts or emails. However, it's best practice to reference generative AI tools in academic writing. For more detailed guidance, check out this resource: Research Guides on Citing Generative AI.

2. What do I do if a plagiarism checker detects plagiarism?
Evaluate the flagged sections carefully. Sometimes, a short phrase might be flagged as plagiarism even though it's a common expression. Use your best judgment—if it’s a short phrase, it might not be a concern; if it's a larger block that closely mirrors another source, consider rephrasing or adding your unique insights.

3. What’s the worst that can happen if I accidentally plagiarize?
In a worst-case scenario, if someone notices that you’ve replicated their content, they might take legal action for copyright infringement. That said, following the strategies in this post significantly minimizes this risk. (I’m not a lawyer, so please consider this informational rather than legal advice.)

4. How much tweaking is enough when editing AI outputs?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. The goal is to ensure that the final content reflects your voice and expertise. If your draft still sounds generic or robotic, continue editing until it feels naturally “you.”

Want to leverage AI to write better copy?

The strategies in this post are part of what I call “Copywriting Co-Creation.” You don’t just hand over your copy to a bot—you interact with it and use it smartly to craft high-converting content.

If you’re a health and wellness practitioner curious to harness tools like ChatGPT without sounding like a machine, take the first step and grab my free guide:

→ 3 Simple Ways to Customize ChatGPT (to sound more like you!)

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, and nothing in this blog post or on this website is legal advice. I am a copywriter supporting health & wellness practitioners in content creation. AI is a massive opportunity for practitioners as long as it is used thoughtfully and intentionally.