Substack adds AI detection tool to its newsletter platform

On February 22, Substack rolled out an AI‑detection feature that lets readers scan any newsletter, note, comment or reply for machine‑generated text. The tool, built with Pangram’s AI‑writing detector, is live on the web version and iOS app, with an Android release scheduled later. Users select the three‑dot menu on a post, choose “Scan for AI text,” and the system returns an estimate of how much of the content was written by a human, assisted by AI, or fully generated by AI.

Substack also introduced an optional disclosure field for creators to explain their use of AI and a “How I make this” note describing their writing process. The company says the feature is meant to increase transparency rather than ban AI‑assisted writing, and creators can test drafts with Pangram before publishing and request removal of incorrect markings. CEO Chris Best called the addition a way to keep the platform’s standards high and give readers clearer insight into content sources.