Observations on the current state of publishing

Let’s talk about AI

There are some among my creative colleagues who view AI as simply a tool, nothing about which to be concerned. I cannot begin to express my disbelief, little say outrage, regarding this blind, uninformed view. AI is a huge genie released into the world, now rampaging through not only the creative sphere, but the business and academic world, and to think for a moment it isn’t going to affect every aspect of our lives, whether you’re a creative or not, is simply, willfully, ignorant.

Let’s look at the recent dustup in which Tor Books found themselves regarding the cover art for RuNyx’s Gothikana, released in January this year through Tor’s Bramble imprint. Turns out there were two Adobe Stock images which were used for the cover, both of which were indeed identified on Adobe’s site as AI generated. It would appear, however, the creative department at Bramble either failed to notice the identification, or chose to ignore it. I cannot help but feel it was a decision to ignore the AI designation, given this is the second time in two years Tor has fallen foul of the AI controversy, the other being the cover for Fractal Noise, by Christopher Paolini, released in November 2022.

Closer to home, Edge Publishing released Guy Immega’s debut novel in July 2023, Super-Earth Mother, using an AI generated cover, a cover about which, it should be noted, the author is very proud. And given the author also supports all things AI, and views AI writing interface as ‘just another tool’ to be employed by writers, one wonders just how much of the novel was actually written by the author.

I’m likely going to get into a lot of hot water for that last statement, but at this point I really don’t care, because I’m just tired of people and businesses who think all things creative are a leash on a golden goose.

Then one has to realize Adobe has its own AI generator, known as Sensei GenAI. So, why wouldn’t Adobe allow AI generated images to exist on their offering of stock images. At the moment Shutterstock doesn’t accept AI generated images, but it’s also interesting to note they have their own AI tool, so it’s likely only a matter of time before AI stock proliferates that site as well.

But ai ISN’T JUST ABOUT COMPROMISING CREATIVITY

It would seem AI is being used by law offices to research and write cases. There are a myriad of platforms out there, including, but not limited to, services like ChatGPT for Law, LexisNexis, Thomson Reuters, to name but a very few. And it would also seem one particular lawyer in British Columbia has fallen afoul of the AI genie, in that a precedent cited in a legal case was an AI hallucination. Or, to put it another way, misinformation.

Now, when lawyers start using AI generated information it really does raise the question about who controls the truth? Any business, political, or terrorist group can infect any AI with misinformation (let’s call it for what it is: lies), and thereby insidiously and subtlety infiltrate and compromise a group, business, or government. And if you think I’m over-reacting, just look at the misinformation totalitarian governments, and extremist organizations have achieved through social media in the past 20 years. We have people believing the world is flat, that vaccinations are either poisonous or filled with nanochips to control the population. So, add into that mix the potentially devastating corruption of facts and information that AI can achieve, we’re looking at a scenario right out of SF.

AI has also created a problem in the academic world, to the point many universities, and some secondary schools, are employing AI detection software in order to identify and cull work students haven’t actually written or researched themselves.

And what about employment?

Already AI is replacing people in many job sectors. Marketing comes to mind: whole departments have been gutted and replaced with some low-wage graduate of marketing studies, burdened with ridiculous student debt, overseeing marketing strategies and content completely generated by AI, and sometimes a department head who makes the decisions about the development and implementation of strategies. In some cases, that means a department of 20 people are now out of work. Multiply that across every business sector imaginable, and you have a hidden statistic of unemployment that’s staggering.

AI is replacing call centers, research departments, creative departments, in some cases administrative personnel. Anywhere big business can think to cut costs (meaning wages), they are.

But supporters of AI, like that author mentioned above, seem to feel there is nothing but opportunity for the people who are being replaced by AI. Opportunity where? Blithely, these supporters answer: through retraining. Well, if you’re out of work, and have no income, how are you going to afford retraining? And retraining in what field?

I heard the same BS in the 90s when a department of data entry clerks were being gutted. Half lost their jobs. But the corporate executioner sat there and told these women who were making minimum wage, that this wasn’t a bad thing. It was an opportunity, how he himself had been laid off, went back to university and retrained, and now had this great executive job. I pointed out to him that he had the funds with which to retrain, and was of an age where he could reshape his future. Most of the women he addressed were middle-aged, low income individuals who had no hope of affording the opportunities he experienced.

Clerks, researchers, government employees, administrative staff, just about any sector other than trades may very well be replaced by AI. And with the development of self-propelled vehicles, it’s not going to be long before anyone involved in shipping and transportation is going to be looking for those opportunities every shareholder promises is in your future.

Am I beginning to sound a bit ragey? Gee, I wonder why?

So let’s talk about music, art and literature

So, if AI is going to dominate our business world, it certainly is going to affect the entire spectrum of the creative world, from books and art, to film and music. Whether generated by big business, or indie producers, AI is going to allow people to create content at little to no cost, and generate it at lightning speed. If you think the publishing world is flooded now with books, just wait two years. It is estimated that in 2023, close to 4 million new books were published both traditionally and independently worldwide. Compare that to 2011 at approximately 3 million.

Now factor in the ability to generate an AI book in a day. I predict it won’t be long before traditional publishers, whether the Big 5, or mid- to small publishers, will start looking seriously at the economic reality of being able to produce content at little to no cost, at a rapid rate, content which you’re able to pivot at a moment’s notice to leverage trends and thereby capitalize on sales. Cover? No problem; use AI. Royalties? No problem; there are none. Profit? After printing cost, it’s all gravy, and even better if you’re generating digital content for e-reading or audio. Why, you can even generate an audio book through AI.

Wall art? Why pay an artist when you can generate something you want through AI, send that image to a printer, have it printed on canvas or paper, framed, and shipped to you for a fraction of the cost you’d have to pay someone who manipulates medium.

Music? You can generate that through AI as well, upload it to just about any streaming platform and now you’re a musician, one of millions creating more content. And the labels are watching that as well, poised to pump out trendy tunes without having to pay production and royalty costs for living, breathing musicians.

And while I hear colleagues saying humans will always create, that you cannot stifle the need to put hand and mind to making something out of nothing, those creations will inevitably be just for the creator and the very few in their close circle. Craft shows, farmer’s markets, fairs? Sure. But anyone who is a vendor at these venues will attest to the fact they are seeing a rise of mass manufactured product, which likely involved AI is some manner.

What’s the answer?

Damned if I know. I’m just raging a bit here. And I’m also glad I’m an old woman now, because I frankly can only see a dystopian future ahead. I don’t see opportunity. Sure, there are some wonderful things happening. But not enough. We’ve developed a society, whether you’re in a totalitarian or allegedly democratic state, which is dominated by corporate greed and political agenda shaped by that greed. It’s always been thus. But it’s just that stakes are so much higher now, and we’re returning to a serf/ruling class society with a huge disparity in wealth.

For myself, I’m going to continue to write stories few will read. I will continue to paint images few will bring into their lives. Why? Because I can. And when I’m gone, this legacy, if you want to call it that, will be my son’s problem, one easily fixed by calling a service like Got-Junk. Now that sounds hopeful, say what?

In the meantime, if you’re actually interested in reading any of my work, or purchasing any of my paintings, all of which contain my own sweat, angst, laughter, and thought, just browse around the website and see what’s on offer. I’m pretty confident you might find something you wish to bring into your life.

And you know what? Go out and take a walk. Plant something. Laugh about something. Why not?