I got stuck in a department meeting at my office this week, in a conference room where they decided, “Hey, why don’t we see if the heat still works on full blast when it’s 90 degrees outside.” So I was already boiling when folks several pay grades above me started sharing the various ways in which they’re “delegating” their work to AI. A partner (a partner!) presided over this meeting and detailed how when he receives a proposal to review, he scans it, asks AI to spit out a summary, then asks it to judge whether the proposal would be successful. And my internal temperature just kept on spiking…
From what I’m seeing, executives are embracing generative AI like a 21% federal corporate income tax rate. I don’t know if they think their jobs are too important to be replaced by the technology, or if they figure they can retire soon enough and just don’t care. Of course the truest answer undoubtably lies with dollar signs they see AI generating for them. Which brings us to Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt, who went on Today this week and proclaimed he has “no problem” selling AI-written books. Which works out just fine for me, because I have “no problem” purchasing my books elsewhere.
James Daunt, the chief executive officer of the popular book chain, said he finds no issue with selling books generated by artificial intelligence, so long as the book doesn’t “masquerade” as human-made. Speaking with Jenna Bush Hager on Today, Daunt explained his stance, which is being viewed online as controversial.
“I have actually no problem selling any book, as long as it doesn’t masquerade or pretend to be something that it isn’t, and that it has an essential quality to it, and that the customer, the reader, wants it,” Daunt told Bush Hager.
He added, “So as long as an AI-written book says it’s an AI-written book says it’s an AI-written book and doesn’t pretend to be something else and isn’t ripping off somebody else, as long as that’s clearly stated and the customer wants to buy it, then we will stock them.”
Bush Hager pointed out that books, in general, are “very human.” Many have denounced AI use in writing literature for that reason, while others have noted AI’s tendency to derive from human works. Additionally, others protest AI for its environmental impact, a cost not incurred with human writers.
…Despite opposition from readers, authors and publishers, AI has already worked its way into books. In fact, Daunt said it’s possible they’re already being sold under Barnes & Noble’s name.
“We have 300,000 titles across all of our stores. Do we think that some of those may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we’re not really conscious of them,” Daunt said.
However, Daunt noted that the issue appears small at present. “At the moment, it seems unlikely to us that these AI-generated books are going to get much commercial traction. So I think it’s something that one should treat with common sense and acceptance, but not allow anything to masquerade (as).”
Ultimately, the CEO added, it’s going to be crucial for booksellers everywhere to provide clarity with AI-generated books and disclose whether an author is or isn’t a real person.
Bully for Daunt that he’s not daunted by the prospect of selling (and profiting from) AI-written books, “AI-written” being an oxymoron in and of itself. Now, could someone please unriddle this logic for me: Daunt says his one caveat is that AI-books can’t “masquerade” as human-written (aka: written). But then he says this: “We have 300,000 titles across all of our stores. Do we think that some of those may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we’re not really conscious of them.” So he acknowledges that they likely already sell AI-written books that they’re just not aware of… isn’t that a failure of Daunt’s ONE caveat? They’re selling books they don’t realize are AI-written — the “masquerade” is happening!! I know I know, Daunt’s whole “as long as the AI doesn’t masquerade!” argument is probably courtesy of AI itself. Anyway, this specific case is moot for me, because I haven’t patronized Barnes & Nobles in years. But the broader implications are not encouraging. “It’s going to be crucial for booksellers everywhere to … disclose whether an author is or isn’t a real person” is some f–ked up Through the Looking-Glass nonsense, written not even half as well as Lewis Carroll would have done.
photos credit: Justin Ng/Avalon, Terrance Barksdale on Pexels, Getty Images
This is the free market. If people buy the books, why wouldn’t a corporation sell them?
Sure, as long as people know what they’re buying. And there are heaps and heaps of books out there that have been written by humans in a totally mechanical and predictable way, like those mysteries, “A Quiche Before Dying” and “Knit One, Stab Two” (I don’t know if that last one is real, but it should be). Bookstores and libraries are filled with crap. Many critics are trying to make it about quality, but it really isn’t.
It’s really about cost, efficiency and eliminating human workers, which is something companies have always loved. And it’s about pushing off the true cost of AI – environmental damage and human displacement – onto the general public.
Bookstores aren’t the gatekeepers of what gets published. That honor belongs to literary agents and publishing houses.
My post got cut off. tl;dr AI is a symptom of late stage capitalism, not the cause of income inequality. Yes we should boycott TF out of B & N, but we never should have been shopping there in the first place.
Because it’s wrong — ethically, environmentally and artistically.
I realize that most would call that stance hopelessly naive. But I think we should demand that the people working in the “free market” adhere to some minimum ethical standards instead of cynically saying, “What can you do?”
Anyway, shop at independent bookstores, which have come out swinging against selling AI books.
It’s not that it’s naive. It’s too little too late. Even if we plebs could not have predicted gen AI 10-20 years ago, the big box stores were ravaging our communities and causing environmental destruction. The time to fight was then. Obviously many people on here were too young or not yet born so there’s no fault there, but for GenX and older to act scandalized now is exhausting.
I see AI is already making some upper level business people lazy. I haven’t been to a Barnes & Noble in over a decade (and I used to practically live there!) and I’ll just keep driving by it.
So now the customer will have to research whether or not an author they’re unfamiliar with is actually human bc the booksellers obviously haven’t been paying close attention? And we’re supposed to trust the submitter of an AI book to truthfully reveal if it is AI “written”? Why would they, if they think the truth will cost them money? I can see it being a huge problem with e-books soon (if it hasnt already happened) and eventually audiobooks, which has been another source of income for many actors. I’ll just stick with my favorite authors and authors I’m either familiar with, or has been recommended to me by trustworthy people…
On a positive note, more communities are demanding more investigations into AI data centers before allowing them to be built in their communities, or they are outright rejecting or protesting them to their city council. One news report stated that one community was recalling their city council members bc the council greedily voted to allow one to be built despite the community being against it.
Argh! I hate this all so much. Whoever above said this is making CEOs lazy is 100% correct most people on the ground. Don’t want this because they realize it’s not only going to take their jobs and pollute the environment, but the outcome is actual crap. Sigh I have been going to Barnes & Noble in place of Amazon, because at least they still have brick and mortars in our community, but after this, hell, no.
Now seems like the time to remind people to support their local bookstore. I’m a school librarian and I deeply value the partnership that we have with our local independent bookstore. You can also buy books and support independent shops online at http://www.bookshop.org.
Thank you for being on the frontlines! In my mind you have a dream job. I’m sure it’s not all recommending fabulous books to eager young minds, but let me dream. 😉
Sigh… so disappointing. My family and I love B&N and we get each other gift cards for presents. I go to the library quite frequently, too. I’ll have to research local book stores to patronize.
Ai was developed by stealing our words, our thoughts, our interpretations, our work, our solutions, our time, our written and visual history, and our dreams.
It is creating content that generates income for the rich owners and corporations by cutting out actual creators.
It is wrong wrong wrong.
Maybe the only way to fight against their power is to Go local, grassroots. Community.