TLDR: The publishing industry is increasingly concerned about the rise of AI-created books, especially those mimicking sports autobiographies, and is calling on retailers to implement clearer warnings for consumers regarding AI-generated content.
The publishing industry has issued a significant warning regarding the growing concern over books created by artificial intelligence, particularly those that imitate sports autobiographies. Industry leaders are urging retailers to provide more transparent warnings to consumers about the nature of these AI-generated works.
Dan Conway, chief executive of the Publishers Association, highlighted the severity of the issue, stating, ‘AI created books are an increasing problem for us.’ He explained the ease with which these new tools can generate content, contrasting it with the difficulty consumers face in distinguishing between a thoroughly researched book and one ‘spun up incredibly quickly using AI technology,’ leading to ‘real consumer confusion.’
Sky News has spent months investigating these apparent AI recreations, noting their prevalence on Amazon as both Kindle e-books and printed versions. While some titles were removed after Sky News informed the e-commerce giant, Amazon currently has no immediate plans to label content that involved AI in its generation. Although Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) requires authors to disclose if content is AI-generated, this information is not passed on to the consumer.
Examples of such AI-generated books include those that quickly capitalized on England’s success at the Women’s Euros. Books purportedly about scoring stars Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were found to share identical cover styles, even featuring an American football instead of a soccer ball. These short books, often fewer than 50 pages, were sold in paperback for around £11. The Agyemang book was published the day after her dramatic equalizer in the Euros semifinal, and the Kelly book appeared online the day after her winning penalty in the final. The named author behind these works reportedly has no digital footprint beyond Amazon and other online retailers, yet has published over 45 books since July, covering politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, musicians, and sports stars.
This trend is causing significant frustration among genuine sports stars who dedicate considerable effort to sharing their heartfelt stories. Former England football captain Steph Houghton expressed her shock upon discovering a 50-page imitation of her autobiography, ‘Leading From The Back,’ which in its authentic form spans over 300 pages. Houghton remarked, ‘It takes a lot of hard work to make a book. It’s poor that, in terms of Amazon allowing it to be on there as well.’ Similarly, former Liverpool and Tottenham player Neil Ruddock was dismayed by a book mimicking ‘Toxic,’ his account of addiction. His literary agent, James Wills, voiced a strong concern: ‘We do have a real concern about generative AI, which is what this is, somebody putting it in and using it that way.’
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The concern within the industry stems from the minimal human involvement in producing these books, making it difficult for consumers browsing online platforms to discern their origin. This contrasts sharply with traditional unofficial biographies, which are typically written by journalists who conduct their own research and writing.
