The digital age has given rise to a macabre new trend in the publishing world – hasty, shoddy, AI-generated biographies of recently deceased individuals. It appears that books, often filled with gross grammatical and factual errors, are being quickly churned out for sale online shortly after the death of well-known people.
For example, after the passing of Joseph Lelyveld, a former executive editor of The New York Times, his brother Michael Lelyveld discovered a disturbing phenomenon. Alongside the expected obituaries in major news outlets, he found several biographies on Amazon, available for purchase on the very day his brother died. These books portrayed Joseph Lelyveld in a false light, describing him as a chain smoker who honed his skills in Cairo and reported from Vietnam.
It becomes clear that these AI-generated biographies are simply capitalizing on the grief and curiosity of readers. Michael Lelyveld aptly states, “They want to make a buck on your grief.” These books are not only disrespectful to the memory of the deceased but also misleading to those seeking accurate information about their lives.
This new publishing subgenre has seen an influx of AI-generated biographies for various celebrities. The late Tom Smothers, of the 1960s “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” television show, became another subject of this troubling trend. On the day of his death, a poorly titled book with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing appeared on Amazon.
Even country music star Toby Keith was not spared from this inappropriate practice. Biographies about him emerged shortly after his recent passing, one of which carried a disclaimer, stating that the content may not be accurate or complete, and any resemblance to real persons is coincidental.
The rise of AI-generated biographies is a concerning development in the literary world. It highlights the need for heightened scrutiny and verification of information, particularly in the digital age where misinformation can spread rapidly. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the integrity and authenticity of an individual’s life story, especially after their passing.
Frequently Asked Questions about AI-Generated Biographies
Q: What are AI-generated biographies?
AI-generated biographies are books created with the help of artificial intelligence technologies. These books aim to depict the lives of individuals, often famous or recently deceased, by using algorithms to generate content.
Q: Why are AI-generated biographies concerning?
AI-generated biographies raise concerns due to their hasty production and lack of accuracy. These books are often filled with grammatical and factual errors, misleading readers seeking truthful information about the individuals in question.
Q: How are AI-generated biographies taking advantage of readers?
AI-generated biographies capitalize on the curiosity and grief of readers by quickly releasing books for sale online shortly after someone’s death. This rush to publish often results in low-quality content that misrepresents the deceased person’s life.
Q: Can you provide examples of AI-generated biographies?
One example is the case of Joseph Lelyveld, where biographies portraying him in a false light were available for purchase on Amazon on the same day of his death. Additionally, biographies of Tom Smothers and Toby Keith also emerged shortly after their passing.
Q: How does the rise of AI-generated biographies impact the literary world?
The rise of AI-generated biographies highlights the need for increased scrutiny and verification of information. In the digital age, where misinformation spreads rapidly, it is crucial to preserve the integrity and authenticity of an individual’s life story, especially after their death.
Key Definitions:
– AI: Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines by programming them to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence.
– Misinformation: Incorrect or misleading information, often unintentionally spread.
– Integrity: The quality of being honest, sincere, and having strong moral principles.
Related Links:
– The New York Times
– Amazon
The source of the article is from the blog radiohotmusic.it