Does AI-generated content actually rank on Google? Let's discuss real results

There's SO much conflicting information out there about whether AI-generated content can rank on Google. Some people say it works great, others say Google penalizes it. I want to hear from people with ACTUAL data and experience, not just theories.**My Situation:**I've been publishing AI-assisted blog posts for 6 months on my niche website (home improvement). Here's my honest results:📊 **My Stats:**- 45 articles published (mix of AI + human editing)- Average word count: 1,800 words- Tools used: ChatGPT for drafts, Surfer SEO for optimization- Human editing: 30-45 minutes per article- Topics: How-to guides, product comparisons, DIY tutorials📈 **Rankings:**- 12 articles ranking on page 1 (positions 3-10)- 18 articles on page 2-3- 15 articles barely ranking (page 5+)**What I've Learned:**✅ **What seems to work:**- Heavy editing and adding personal experience/examples- Using AI for structure, then rewriting in my own voice- Adding original images and videos- Proper keyword research (AI doesn't do this well)- Internal linking strategy❌ **What doesn't work:**- Publishing AI content with minimal editing- Generic "AI voice" that sounds robotic- Lack of E-E-A-T signals (experience, expertise, authority, trust)- Thin content that just rephrases existing articles**My Questions for the Community:**1. **What's YOUR actual experience?** Please share real numbers if possible.2. **Detection vs. Quality:** Do you think Google is detecting AI content specifically, or just penalizing low-quality content (which AI often produces)?3. **Tools:** What AI writing tools are you using? Does the choice of tool matter?4. **Editing ratio:** How much do you edit AI content before publishing? 10%? 50%? Complete rewrite?5. **Long-term:** Has anyone been doing this for 12+ months? Are rankings stable or declining?**The Big Debate:**Some SEO experts say:- "AI content is fine as long as it's helpful"- "Google can't detect AI content"- "Focus on quality, not how it's created"Others say:- "Google is getting better at detection"- "AI content lacks the depth needed to rank"- "You're risking manual penalties"**What I Want to Know:**- Has anyone been penalized for AI content?- Are you disclosing AI use on your site?- What's your content production process?- How do AI articles compare to human-written ones in your analytics?**Please share:**- Your niche- How long you've been publishing AI content- Ranking results (even rough estimates)- Traffic changes over timeLet's get real data instead of speculation. I'm genuinely curious if this is sustainable long-term or if we're all setting ourselves up for a future algorithm update that tanks AI-heavy sites.