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Food packaging warnings should be on AI books

A leading poet and writer from Scotland has called for warnings to be put on books written by artificial intelligence (AI). Peter Mackay became Scotland's national poet in December last year. He is concerned about the damage AI could do to the publishing industry. He wants food packaging-style health warnings on all AI-generated books. He told the BBC: "I have got huge concerns about AI in terms of the creation of new literature and the creation of new books, partly because, as a writer, it could be disastrous for new people who are in the profession." He added: "It's very hard to make a living as a writer anyway, and [now] you are having to compete with [all the] knowledge of every  book written."

Mr Mackay wants all new books to have a special mark that shows whether AI or a person wrote it. He said the symbol could be like those used on food packaging. He believes the public needs to know about the level of AI input in a book. One idea is that information could show if a book is "100 per cent AI-free or 100 per cent organically produced". Mr Mackay's call comes just before the USA and UK refused to sign an international agreement on AI to keep it "clean" and "ethical". US Vice President JD Vance said too much regulation of AI could "kill a transformative industry just as it's taking off". He said "pro-growth AI policies" were more important than safety.

 

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Talk about these words from the article.

poet / warnings / books / publishing / food packaging / literature / A.I. / knowledge / symbol / the public / information / international agreement / ethical / growth / safety

 

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Discussion

1) What do you think about what you read?

2) Do you think books should have an AI mark on them?

3) Why is it important to know if a book was written by AI?

4) Should music and art also have a symbol if AI was used?

5) What jobs do you think AI will replace?

6) Will AI be better than real English teachers?

7) How important is AI for our future?

8) What questions would you like to ask a novelist?