ISTANBUL 

Just over half (51%) of the UK’s published novelists said artificial intelligence is likely to completely replace their work in fiction, according to a new survey commissioned by the University of Cambridge.

As much as 59% of the novelists said they know their work has been used to train AI large language models without their permission or compensation.

Meanwhile, 39% reported that their income has already been affected by generative AI, such as through losing supplementary work that supports their writing. About 85% said they expect AI to reduce their future earnings as well.

In the new research conducted for Cambridge’s Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy (MCTD), Clementine Collett, author of the report, surveyed 258 published novelists and 74 industry professionals — including commissioning editors and literary agents — to assess how AI is perceived and used within British fiction.

The findings suggested that genre writers are seen as most at risk of being displaced by AI. As much as 66% of all respondents identified romance authors as “extremely threatened,” followed by writers of thrillers (61%) and crime fiction (60%).

Yet, overall attitudes toward AI within UK fiction are not hostile. Eighty percent of participants agreed that AI provides societal benefits, and 33% of the novelists already use AI in their writing process, primarily for non-creative tasks like fact-finding.

Still, the report highlighted deep anxieties among those at the heart of a publishing sector that contributes £11 billion annually to the UK economy and is the world’s leading exporter of books.

Literary creatives say copyright laws have been ignored with generative AI and are calling for consent, fair pay, transparency from tech companies, and government support.

Collett said novelists are widely concerned that generative AI, trained on vast amounts of fiction, could undermine the value of writing and compete with human authors.

Many worry that there may be less demand for complex, long-form fiction in the future, she said, adding: "“Novels contribute more than we can imagine to our society, culture, and to the lives of individuals.

"Novels are a core part of the creative industries, and the basis for countless films, television shows, and videogames."