AI-Written Arabic Novel Raises Concerns Over Literary Authenticity

The novel remains a significant source of enjoyment in contemporary Arab culture, with the late critic Jaber Asfour referring to this period as the "Age of the Novel" due to the increasing number of publications from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Novels frequently dominate bestseller lists and are often adapted into successful films, with major literary awards offering substantial financial incentives to authors.

Artificial Intelligence Enters Literature

However, the integrity of this literary landscape is being challenged by concerns over "authenticity." Some emerging or less skilled writers are resorting to artificial intelligence to create novels. This issue was highlighted at the recent Cairo International Book Fair, where cultural activists uncovered complete narratives produced solely by AI programs. These texts, which included technical instructions meant for the AI, raised alarms among some attendees, who labeled it a "cultural scandal."

Instances of AI-Generated Narratives

One notable example involved the AI program "ChatGPT," which responded to an author's prompts about character development by stating, "Thank you for the clarification; I will continue narrating the events with a focus on the development of the relationship between (Ruh) and (Iyad) after planting the flowers while maintaining hope in their relationship," before proceeding with the narrative.

Publishers Express Concerns

Publisher Amir Al-Naji, director of the "Arabic Pens" publishing house, acknowledged that while such occurrences are not widespread, they are concerning. He emphasized that the publishing house will implement stricter measures to combat the spread of these AI-generated texts. Al-Naji noted that while the use of AI for tasks like cover design or translation is acceptable if disclosed, presenting AI-generated content as human creativity represents a "cultural disaster that is unacceptable."