AI and Authors

Everyone is talking about the impact of AI on the book publishing world. So, here's my tuppence worth.

** AI is not going away. **

It will increasingly change our lives. Everyone in the media industry is frightened of it. And they are right to be.

We'll try to legislate and fight it. Whatever the result, we need to understand it, or else.

In ancient Greece, even before my time, the philosopher Heraclitus proposed, "there is nothing permanent except change."

The 19th-century Luddites couldn't stop the industrial revolution.

The advent of commodity computers did cause job losses, but many were replaced by new opportunities. We adapted to changing job opportunities.

The 'green' revolution will reduce our dependency on oil. The oil industry is changing. Some businesses/people will prosper as they adapt; others won't survive.

We already, and increasingly, use AI in every facet of our lives. Authors use AI grammar tools, and for those who advertise, it's increasingly AI-driven; and much more.

Some authors will use AI to write their books, especially those who churn out books almost weekly. I suspect their teams of freelancers and staff may be the first casualties of this publishing revolution.

We might even have publishers invest in AI 'authors' behind existing brand names, further closing the door on traditional publishing. Fortunately, as a One-Stop-Indie Author who doesn't outsource anything, I am not at the whims of a publishing house.

Of course, AI worries me but because I cannot see the end game. No one likes uncertainty. No matter our role in the book publishing industry, it will change what we do.

Personally, I've got so many stories bubbling in that thick head of mine to never think about using AI in the creative sense. Why would I? I write to get them out.

What comes next? We'll just have to watch. But all the time, we must adapt.

Comments? Thoughts?