The Bookseller - Comment - Blurred lines

The House of Lords recently debated current worries about generative AI raised in the book trade and beyond by the likes of Kate Mosse and Sir Paul McCartney. Baroness Kidron has proposed amendments that would require operators of internet bots that use existing published work to train generative AI models to comply with copyright laws. It seems that the AI rubber is about to hit the publishing road, with radical thinking needed to overcome what is becoming an overwhelming challenge. Here are some lateral ideas designed to initiate conversation in the trade.

With generative AI technology now readily accessible, a surge of AI-generated books is already flooding the market, authored by non-professional writers wielding sophisticated tools to create surprisingly good-quality content. Startups companies like BookBud and Kidzbook and influencers like the Nerdy Novelist cater to this new non-writer market.

Imagine scrolling through an online bookstore and not knowing if the book you're eyeing is crafted by a human or synthesised by AI. The line is blurring, and with it arises a compelling question: should we create a distinct category for AI-authored books? Such a move could simultaneously honour the creativity of human authors while embracing AI-generated innovation.