How AI books sneak their way into stores
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Over the past several months, a string of AI-related scandals has unsettled the literary world.
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
Alexandra Alter
- AI-generated novels now make up a significant portion of self-published books on Amazon, with many containing over 50% AI-written prose.
- Authors like Jess Michaels feel overwhelmed by AI works, which hurt sales and make it hard for real writers to stand out.
- Retailers have mixed responses: Amazon allows AI books with minimal disclosure, while others like Bookshop try to block them to protect authors and readers.
AI generated
Historical-romance writer Jess Michaels has released 117 novels since she started writing full-time in 1999, most of them self-published. She’s built a devoted readership and has had 10 USA Today bestsellers.
But lately, sales have been so dismal that she might stop publishing.