Murray Bridge photographer Cadeyrn Smith combines his drone photography and illustrations to create ‘Smiley’s Steam Train Dream’, a children’s book enriched by AI technology to tell a charming story of South Australia’s historic railway.
Cadeyrn Smith, an emerging local photographer and storyteller from Murray Bridge, is preparing to publish his first children’s book titled Smiley’s Steam Train Dream. The book traces a charming journey along the historic railway line from Monarto South to Sedan in South Australia, narrated through the adventures of a playful character named Smiley.
The book uniquely combines photography and illustration, featuring drone-captured images of historic rail bridges alongside drawings of steaming trains that once played a vital role in supporting the communities along the route. All the aerial photographs were taken by Mr Smith himself, with assistance from Glenn Power, his Genuine Support Services Australia (GSSA) support worker. Reflecting on the visuals, Mr Smith said, “I’m very happy with how the bridge images came out, they really captured the sweeping empty country around the bridges.”
A notable aspect of the book’s creation was the use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI, which helped Mr Smith to shape the narrative, refine the language, and weave the storyline together. ChatGPT employs natural language processing to generate human-like conversational responses and is capable of assisting with writing and various other communication tasks. “The young Smiley imagines a world where every train and station has a secret, and every whistle tells a story,” said Mr Smith, describing the heart of the story as being about steam and dreams.
This project highlights how AI technology, when used responsibly and transparently, can support emerging creatives—particularly those who may face obstacles in entering traditional publishing avenues. Tools like ChatGPT enabled Mr Smith to transform his ideas into a polished final product, thereby freeing up more time for creative expression and collaboration. Glenn Power emphasised this supportive role, saying, “AI can be a brilliant tool if managed well. It helped Cadeyrn tell his story, in his voice.”
While there are ongoing discussions about originality and disclosure concerning the use of AI in publishing, Mr Smith and his team have been clear that the technology was utilised as an aid, not a replacement, to his own creativity.
Smiley’s Steam Train Dream is set to be available soon at GSSA’s Ability Café and at selected community events during autumn. The Ability Café, which operates as a café with a cause, is open on Fridays from 11.30am to 2pm at the GSSA’s Community Hub and Activities Centre located at 5 & 6 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.murraybridge.news/budding-photographer-is-set-to-publish-his-first-childrens-book/ – Corroborates that Cadeyrn Smith is publishing his first children’s book, ‘Smiley’s Steam Train’, about a journey along the historic railway line between Monarto South and Sedan, as reported in the article.
- https://www.genuinesupportservicesaustralia.com.au/smiles-are-free/ – Provides evidence of Cadeyrn Smith’s collaborations with Genuine Support Services Australia (GSSA) and demonstrates his creative projects linked to community tourism initiatives, aligning with the article’s details about GSSA’s involvement.
- https://www.genuinesupportservicesaustralia.com.au/fresh-convener-for-shows-section-w/ – Mentions Cadeyrn Smith’s participation in local shows and photography events, supporting the article’s portrayal of him as an active community figure involved in creative pursuits.
- https://www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/1517519/RCMB-Media-Release-IDPWD-Winners-December-2023.pdf – Confirms Cadeyrn Smith’s recognition as an advocate for inclusivity, aligning with the article’s emphasis on his role as a creative individual overcoming obstacles with community support.
- https://www.openai.com/chatgpt – Official source for ChatGPT’s capabilities in natural language processing and creative assistance, corroborating its use as described in the article for narrative refinement and story development.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative includes contemporary elements and ongoing activities, such as the availability of the book in the near future and current operations at the Ability Café.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Quotes provided appear original and there is no indication that they have been previously published elsewhere. However, without online sources, it’s difficult to confirm they are the first instance of these quotes.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The narrative originates from a news source available through Google News, which aggregates content from various outlets. The specific origin and credibility are not detailed in the provided context.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the book and its creation are plausible. The use of AI tools in creative projects is becoming more common, making the narrative credible.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the narrative appears fresh and plausible, the lack of detailed information about the source makes it difficult to assess its reliability fully. The use of AI in the project is transparent, contributing to its credibility.
