370 Books in 20 months: South African author defends her use of AI (www.enca.com)

South African author Coral Hart has published over 370 books in just 20 months using artificial intelligence, a move that has sparked significant controversy and backlash from parts of the literary community. Hart, who has faced threats and widespread criticism on social media, argues for the necessity of open discussions about AI in publishing, considering its inevitability in the industry. With 14 years of experience in traditional publishing before embracing AI, she has developed a sophisticated approach, utilizing various AI models like ChatGPT and Claude while overseeing the creative process herself for story concepts and structure. The implications of Hart's methods are profound for the AI/ML community, illustrating both the potential and challenges of AI in creative fields. Hart emphasizes the importance of human input in refining AI-generated content, stating that the initial drafts typically require extensive developmental edits to ensure quality. Her venture has not only resonated with readers—resulting in over a million book sales and launching her own AI author training program—but also highlights the ongoing debate about AI's role in originality and literary value. As she prepares to release her software for aspiring authors, Hart stands at the forefront of an evolving dialogue about AI's integration into literature.