Amazon has introduced new rules for self-publishers on its Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform, requiring them to disclose if their content includes AI-generated material. This decision comes in response to concerns about AI-produced works being sold under human authors’ names.
Furthermore, authors using KDP are now obligated to inform Amazon when publishing or editing a book if it contains AI-generated text, images, translations, or artwork. While organizations like the Authors Guild welcomed this move as a “welcome first step,” worries persist that AI-generated content could flood the platform, potentially disadvantaging human authors.
Additionally, the Authors Guild, representing over 13,000 American writers, expressed concerns about AI-generated books ascending best-seller lists and content farms appropriating the names, styles, and content of well-known authors. This situation was exemplified by author Jane Friedman, who reported that several books, likely created by AI tools, were falsely listed under her name on Amazon.
However, Amazon clarified that authors are not required to disclose content that is AI-assisted but not entirely generated by AI, stating that this type of content involves authors using AI tools to “edit, refine, error-check, or otherwise improve” their work.
While Amazon’s move is seen as a step in the right direction, there are no immediate plans to publicly identify books predominantly or entirely authored by AI. This decision reflects the ongoing challenge of detecting AI-generated material effectively.
The Authors Guild, along with notable writers like James Patterson and Margaret Atwood, previously organized an open letter urging AI firms not to use copyrighted material without permission.
The concern is that AI-generated content could undermine the unique creativity and talent of human authors and potentially deceive consumers who may not be aware that they are purchasing AI-generated works.
