Tens of thousands of books from authors well-known and unknown alike have found themselves in the center of an unexpected storm – they are being utilized as training tools for artificial intelligence by some of the foremost technology companies. The authors themselves, however, have been left blindsided, uninformed of the use of their novels and prose pieces.
Books3 has become the chosen vessel for this process. The data set consisting of a vast array of pirated e-books across myriad genre – from racy romance novels to profound poetry. It acts as a stimulus for generative AI systems, aiding their understanding of communication cues.
High-quality AI development demands an equally high-quality text for language absorption, a task for which books serve perfectly. Books3 has rapidly spiraled into a hotbed for multiple lawsuits against not only Meta but other corporate entities employing the AI tool.
A previously undisclosed database, recently revealed by The Atlantic, allows authors to discern if their manuscripts are among those utilized in training these AI mechanisms. The revelation has sparked a wave of disappointment and fury among the literary community.
Mary H.K. Choi, author of “Emergency Contact”, expressed her outrage and feeling of helplessness on social media after discovery of her work’s usage. Choi described her work as deeply personal, which was initially deemed “too quiet and niche” but later managed to gain international fame, even becoming a New York Times bestseller.
Conflict arises when this deeply personal narrative is thrown into the algorithmic machinery, reducing a labor of love into mere data. Not only does this impact authors financially, but it also deprives book lovers, librarians, and readers from their share of experiences, Choi voiced.
Several authors echoed Choi’s sentiment. Notably, Min Jin Lee, acclaimed author of “Pachinko” and “Free Food for Millionaires”, termed the act as outright theft. Renowned romance novelist Nora Roberts, who has the distinction of having 206 books in the Books3 database, called out the unprincipled usage by tech companies as exploitation.
Culinary author, Nik Sharma, too expressed disappointment at being taken advantage of, but voiced no surprise. The AI industry, he asserted, is in a lawless state leading to rampant exploitation by technology companies. Sharma, however, saw a silver lining in the revelation, expressing relief that only one of his cookbooks was discovered in the database.
Despite the uproar, not every author expressed contempt. Academic author James Chappel shrugged off the issue, declaring on social media that he simply wished for his books to be read and used to educate.
This technological upheaval has further implications in the world of art. Last year saw visual artists encounter similar circumstances, finding their work training AI systems without their permission or awareness. The fusion of AI and art has further amplified the ongoing dialogue concerning AI’s pervasive influence.
Amid this rising storm, US President Joe Biden has hinted towards introducing an executive order on AI, aimed to spearhead “responsible AI innovation.” The news, however, brings little comfort to authors.
Against the background of a strike by the Writers Guild of America, author Mary Choi found the realization of her book’s usage by AI surreal and deflating. She calls the AI infringement an insultingly inconsequential offense and expresses the omnipresent, oppressive inevitability of it all.
Nora Roberts, however, calls for solidarity amongst writers and readers alike to effectively combat the co-opting of their work. Despite the immensity of the challenge, she eschews despair, encouraging unity in this vital issue.
