A British startup, Books by People, has introduced a certification process to ensure that books are genuinely written by humans. The company, which received approval from the UK’s Intellectual Property Office, will place a thumbprint-like stamp on covers to signal authenticity.
The move comes as the publishing industry grapples with allegations of AI-generated works. Notably, a literary agent canceled a $2 million deal, and a novel was withdrawn from shelves amid claims of AI involvement.
Despite these controversies, writers believe that genuine human stories remain irreplaceable. Science fiction author Ted Chiang, whose work inspired the film Arrival, stated that knowing the creation process affects reading experience.
However, the certification raises concerns. False positives could damage authors' reputations, and there's a risk of excessive scrutiny. Some argue that platforms and publishers should declare AI-generated content, rather than constantly questioning human creativity.
