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CEO Defends Selling AI Books: Transparency is Key
18 May
Summary
- CEO will sell AI books if clearly disclosed and wanted.
- Authors petitioned publishers against AI-generated books.
- Barnes & Noble has 300,000 titles, some possibly AI.
James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, has expressed his willingness to sell books created by artificial intelligence, emphasizing that such works should not "masquerade" as human-authored.
Daunt stated that his primary concern is transparency, asserting that AI-generated books are acceptable if they clearly disclose their origin and if readers genuinely desire them. This viewpoint has sparked debate, particularly as many view literature as an inherently human endeavor.
This discussion occurs against a backdrop of significant opposition. In June 2025, over 70 authors urged the "big five" U.S. publishers to reject AI-created books and avoid replacing human employees with AI tools. A recent incident saw Hachette Books cancel a novel, Shy Girl, due to allegations of extensive AI use by the author's editor.
Despite these controversies, Daunt acknowledged that some AI-written books may already be among Barnes & Noble's 300,000 titles, though he deems the current impact minor. He anticipates that AI-generated books will likely struggle for significant commercial success in the near future.
