Authors miffed by publisher’s offer to use their books for AI training

Authors are speaking out against a recent offer made by a major book publisher to pay them in exchange for permission to use their books to train artificial intelligence. Daniel Kibblesmith, a writer and comedian known for his work on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” shared a memo from HarperCollins offering $2,500 US to use his children’s book “Santa’s Husband” to train an AI model for a large tech company. Kibblesmith declined the offer, calling it “abominable” in a post on social media.

The memo, which was forwarded to Kibblesmith by his agency, acknowledged the controversies surrounding AI and the potential threat it poses to the future of literature. Despite this, the memo claimed that several hundred authors had already agreed to the offer. Kibblesmith expressed disappointment but not surprise at the proposal, citing the lack of consent he has experienced in the past regarding the use of his work.

While Kibblesmith chose to reject the offer, he acknowledged the pressure that freelance creators face in a competitive industry. He likened the situation to the early days of music file-sharing programs like Napster, warning that the widespread use of AI in literature could have a detrimental impact on the industry as a whole.

HarperCollins defended the offer, stating that they had reached an agreement with the tech company to use select nonfiction backlist titles for AI training. However, it remains unclear why the offer was extended to a fiction writer like Kibblesmith. The publisher emphasized their commitment to innovation and experimentation with new business models while protecting the rights and revenue streams of authors.

Author Elisabeth de Mariaffi, who has been with HarperCollins since 2015, expressed concern over the offer, fearing that it could lead to the marginalization of authors in the publishing process. She highlighted the ongoing legal battles between authors and tech companies over copyright infringement related to AI training.

Canadian children’s writer Kenneth Oppel, another HarperCollins author, noted that while the offer may be tempting for many writers in need of financial support, the lack of transparency surrounding the deal raises questions about the fairness of the arrangement. Despite the inevitable integration of authors’ work into AI training, Oppel believes that the power dynamics between writers and tech companies may be difficult to challenge.

Overall, the controversy surrounding HarperCollins’ offer highlights the ethical and financial challenges that authors face in a rapidly evolving literary landscape. As the use of AI in literature continues to grow, it is essential for publishers and tech companies to prioritize the rights and compensation of creators to ensure a sustainable future for the industry.