But also I expect AI-written novels to be pretty crap, so I'd prefer humans keep doing it.

I can’t see why. It could very well, on its own, use other genre’s narrative structures, stories or styles that are uncommon or inexistant in SF.

It could also be used by a human writer to flesh out the story and concepts the writer has created. There are a few authors I find brilliant but whose writing and characters were sorely lacking.

It’s really more about what you do with it than wether or not you use it. I mean, computers have enabled people to simply copy-paste stuff and not produce anything meaningful. Some do just that. Others have thrived.

"...a last ironic thought drifted through Hendricks’ mind...They were already beginning to design weapons to use against each other."