The Post-Digital Book: How AI is Changing the Way We Read and Write
The world of books is facing a profound transformation in the digital age, and AI is not just a spectator – it’s an agent of change, accelerating the evolution of both how we read and how we write.
Renowned author and marketing guru Seth Godin muses on the evolution, noting a decline in reading habits, not the least
of which is attributable to the relentless pull towards the immediacy of the online world.
“What we see is people regularly put down a book to answer their email, see what’s on online, to interact with video. No one does the opposite. And as a result, the culture is shifting away from thought-out reading,” Godin expressed. He points out that this shift impacts more than just individual habits. The very economics of publishing are changing; the rise of digital self-publishing and audiobooks diluted the traditional model, capitalized upon upon bookstore browsing and the exclusivity of new releases.
AI further complicates this evolving landscape. While AI is a fascinating tool, even Godin concedes that this new technology, while accelerative, may not be wholly conducive to the
kind of deep reading experience forged by the physical book.
AI: Helper or Competitor?
“The AI revolution of giving us the information we need — right this minute — doesn’t yet know how to give us the information we don’t know we need. Books have been great at that forever. Books open doors for you that you didn’t even know were closed. AI, right now, doesn’t do that. AI responds, but it doesn’t lead you,” Godin observes.
He’s careful not to demonize AI. It’s a tool, he admits, and can be helpful, particularly in organizing thoughts and ideas.
“It’s different now . You can use AI to help organize thoughts, but it’s going to be a while
before AI can write a book that’s better than the best book a human being can write.”
Godin advocates for recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of both AI and human authorship.
AI excels at speed and scale – producing passable content, churning out
content faster and cheaper than anything humans can manage. But truly great work, the work that can stoke imagination and open new perspectives, Godin points out, requires a human touch.
It’s a different opportunity now to reach more people faster with different kind of impact with AI, said.”
Godin acknowledges the bittersweet nature of AI’s entrance: a new possibility
while mourning the loss of an older tradition, “I miss the magic of books and love bookstores.
But I don’t think there’s any waqy to be Pollyanna about it and say this is the golden
age for traditional book publishing, because it’s not,”
He concludes. There’s
a touch of sadness, but not necessarily despair. The story of the book, after all, is
an ongoing narrative.
