Books by People, a British startup, announced it has received approval from the UK’s Intellectual Property Office to begin certifying books as human-authored.
The startup will use a thumbprint-like mark on book covers to indicate that a book was written by a person. Five publishers have signed up for the certification process, and the first certified book is expected by year-end.
The certification process includes an authorship declaration, proprietary software checks, and manual review of drafts and research materials. Esme Dennys, cofounder of Books by People, said the organization is focusing on indicators of human authorship, such as the natural drafting process. "We’re just trying to create that choice," Dennys said, emphasizing the importance of transparency for readers.
The publishing industry has faced several scandals this year, including a $2 million book deal cancellation and a novel pulled from shelves due to suspected AI use. Despite these incidents, industry insiders believe few readers will want to consume machine-generated books. Ted Chiang, a sci-fi author, said the knowledge of a book’s origin affects emotional investment in the work.
"There’s almost a feeling of revulsion about the idea of reading an AI text that purports to be human," said Sam Jordison, codirector at Galley Beggar Press. "It feels like a con job." The certification initiative has received support from writers and editors, with Markus Dohle of Penguin Random House calling human storytelling the lifeblood of the industry.
However, the routinization of AI detection poses risks for authors, with the potential for false positives. Tom West of Publishers’ Licensing Services warned against the certification process becoming a witch hunt. "The devil is going to be in the detail," West said, highlighting the need for careful implementation.
Books by People’s verification process focuses on interrogating documents and communication trails for signs of humanity, rather than relying solely on AI detection. Dennys emphasized that the organization aims to avoid unjustly accusing writers.
"When you have a public process that has been vetted, all we can do is make sure that a book has gone through the process," she said.
Source: wired
