Writers for Dragons’ Den biography start-up replaced by AI in move that ‘strips words of humanity’
Artificial intelligence will “strip words of humanity”, writers have claimed after it was introduced as part of the process of publishing loving biographies of ordinary lives.
Authors have had their fees heavily reduced after a publisher which offers people the opportunity of having their own biography written by a professional writer adopted artificial intelligence to transcribe interviews with subjects.
Story Terrace’s introduction of an AI programme to carry out such a central part of the writing process is being seen as a groundbreaking step.
But it has left writers fearing for both their livelihoods and the quality of the work produced.
Story Terrace, which describes itself as ‘your personal biographer’ has told its writers: “Interviews should be conducted as normal (no robots involved at this stage), and then the transcripts will be fed into a generative AI program, which should produce the main text of the project.
“The writer’s main job, then, is to review this, and to make any edits or additions where needed.”
Writers’ fees reduced as much as 50 per cent
The firm has told its authors that their fees will be reduced by as much as 50 per cent as a result of their reduced input.
One author who has written several such biographies said she feared the introduction of AI into a central part of the process threatened to damage the art of writing.
Jane, not her real name, said she could no longer work with Story Terrace, adding: “There’s no creativity involved. There’s no sensitivity or concern about tone in what AI produces. It strips the words of humanity.
“When I interview someone and then write up what they say I immerse myself in their life story. An AI robot cannot replicate a writer’s creative output.“
Jane said the introduction of AI as a “cost cutting exercise” to slash payments to writers would prompt fear among the wider public over the use of dehumanising technology.
“It taps into the fear that robots are taking over. It’s chilling,” she said.
Critics say the use of AI by Story Terrace is at odds with the publisher’s ostensive ethos of providing a deeply personal service for people who want to pay for their life story to be told in print.
“Their adverts seduce people into thinking they will have a relationship with a writer when in fact it will be an AI bot doing much of the work,” said Jane. “Do people understand that a robot will be used in putting together their precious life stories?”
AI ‘putting writers off’
Story Terrace has a directory of hundreds of writers potential clients can choose from. But sources have claimed the introduction of AI “is putting a lot of writers off”.
The publisher’s clients can select a package starting at £2,200 for four hours of interviews and four copies of a 55-60 page hardcover book, rising to £7,100 for a ‘premium writer’ service.
Story Terrace’s ‘How It Works’ page and accompanying promotional video does not mention the use of AI, but states: “As your story emerges from your interview sessions, your writer will begin working on the text of your book. They will start off by sending the story outline, a draft sample chapter and finally a draft of the entire story.”
Writers’ organisations have expressed concern over the use of AI in the creative and writing process.
Nicola Solomon, chief executive of the Society of Authors, said: “Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool but it can never replace human creativity. AI creates the average of the averages and comes up with something “plausible but fuzzy” (as Tom Chatfield puts it). Human creators provide connection, empathy, insight built of human experience, wonder and trusted information. AI gives the middle ground, human creators go right to the edges, push our boundaries and make us see more sharply than ever before.”
Effective regulation needed
The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain said effective regulation was needed to control AI.
Ellie Peers, the guild’s general secretary, said: “There have been incredible advancements in AI and it is a powerful tool, but we have a number of concerns, including the use of artificial intelligence to replace core parts of writers’ work, reduce their income and undermine their intellectual property rights.”
The east London based firm, whose founder Rutger Bruining and Marketing Director Theo Brainin turned down a £90,000 investment offer from BBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2019, has defended its use of AI.
Mr Bruining, who set up Story Terrace after being inspired by his own family’s stories, said: “AI is just a tool. There is no content that we create that hasn’t been touched by human hands.
“Of course there’s a lot of room for creativity in the products that we deliver and they all have human care behind them.”
Mr Bruining, who would not discuss the issue of fees for writers, added: “There are writers who don’t like the new process and ones who love it because they’re spending less time on transcribing interviews and more time on the interview itself and more time on editing and writing.”
