Category: AI

Is there anything that AI can’t do (badly)? I am a bit fascinated and alarmed to notice that AI-generated books are readily found online, available for purchase. If you’re not sure what a book written by AI looks like, here’s what I’ve learned so far:

Amazon, Of Course

Where will you find AI-generated books? Your first hunch would be correct: Amazon. They can be bought as dead-tree editions or as downloads for your e-reader, just like regular books. But they don’t disclose that they were made by AI. Here are some example listings for your consideration:

I’ve checked a few other online bookstores and not found signs of these types of books (yet). I suspect Amazon is the current marketplace for AI-generated books, because they make it so easy for anyone to self-publish and sell written works. And while it appears that authors must disclose AI-generated content to Amazon, I cannot find any mention that consumers must be informed. That means: It’s on you to distinguish books written by humans vs. those written by bots!

Why is This Attention-worthy?

At this time, I don’t want to levy any harsh criticisms on AI. Artifical intelligence can be used for good: to synopsize lengthy works, debug complicated code and even detect cancer earlier. But regarding these books being sold through Amazon, I have misgivings.

AI has a history of making odd mistakes. From recommending glue in a pizza recipe to misspelling “strawberry“, it’s clear that AI has some unexpected limits and flaws. Those who are using AI as a tool should do so mindfully, and be prepared for the occasional oddity.

I don’t presume the “authors” of AI-generated books are being careful or mindful. Rather, this looks like the low-effort work of lazy people looking to make a quick and easy buck. Lazy people typically don’t check their work. They don’t care about the harm that they could cause. Some examples of the damage they can cause are:

• Incorrect info could lead to health risks, such as poisoning
• Copycat AI-written books can rob real authors of book sales
• Misinformation can bolster and help spread conspiracy theories

A Spotter’s Guide to AI-Generated Books

I imagine I’ll be revisiting and revising this, as these books evolve, but for now, here’s what tips me off to a book that may have been written by an AI:

• title of book uses the word “Bible” to suggest it contains everything you’ll every need to know
• volume claims to be “5 books in 1”
• author’s name cannot be Googled or found elsewhere on the internet
• author has no photo or uses an AI-generated headshot
• author bio is extremely vague, vapid and full of soulless buzzwords
• book previews show lots of AI-generated images, large-print text and wodges of text that seem flavorless and generic
• no publisher name, or “independently published”

You may use the AI-generated book listings I’ve linked to above as training material. Once you’ve perused those Amazon pages and gotten familiar with the nuances of AI-written works, you’ll probably be able to recognize others in the future.

Also, compare any of those uncanny offerings to a human-written book, from a real-life, talented author. You can verify that an author is legitimate by:

• Reading the author bio and searching the web to confirm some details
• Performing a reverse-image search on their bio picture — real authors often reuse their best headshots throughout their digital footprint
• Finding the author on social media or library websites
• Shopping for the book on other sites, new or used
• Finding the publisher of their book, under “See All Details” of the book listing

Final Comments

Remember, you cannot always trust in reviews on Amazon. Certainly, check them out and you may glean some useful information. But many AI-generated book “authors” have gamed the system, and their titles show a lot of manufactured 5-star reviews.

If you think you’ve purchased a book from Amazon that may have been written by AI, you can certainly contact their support agents about it. I don’t see anything in their return policies that addresses this sort of product. But if you chose to seek a refund, using phrases like “failed to disclose AI-generated content” and “deceptive business practices” will go a long way. I doubt they will stop selling an AI-written title, though. Unless you can convince them that it has caused tangible harm.

Many people often urge others to “Shop Local” versus shopping online. In a similar spirit, I hope this post may help some of you to “Shop Human” as opposed to giving money to these shysters and opportunists.