AI vs. Creativity: The Rise of AI-Penned Books and the Panic Among Writers

A recent gift, a so-called ‘best-selling’ book titled Tech-Splaining for Dummies, illustrates the growing trend of AI-generated content that is both amusing and alarming for creatives. Written entirely by AI with minimal prompts provided by the author’s friend, the book showcases the technology’s ability to mimic human writing styles, albeit with significant flaws such as repetitiveness, inaccuracies, and random content, like recurring mentions of a fictional pet. Currently, companies like BookByAnyone offer services to produce personalized AI books, creating a new market where copyright remains ambiguous.

The rise of generative AI has sparked concerns among artists, musicians, and writers, who feel that their creative works could be exploited without consent. Activists argue that AI should only be used ethically and with respect for original creators’ rights. Instances like the viral use of AI-generated songs by Drake and The Weeknd demonstrate the potential for copyright infringement.

In the UK, media organizations are evaluating how they engage with AI, with some blocking data access and others forming partnerships with AI companies. The UK government’s proposed legal changes may allow developers to use online creative works without explicit opt-in agreements from creators, which many believe could threaten the creative industry.

Across the Atlantic, legal challenges against AI firms—by authors and news organizations—are gaining traction, amidst shifts in regulatory approaches under different U.S. administrations. Concerns about security and competition have also surfaced, particularly with emerging foreign AI technologies. Ultimately, while AI exhibits significant potential to revolutionize content creation, the article underscores a collective doubt among traditional authors about their future in the evolving landscape, with a reminder that the quality of AI writing may still lag behind human creativity.