Rie Kudan’s AI-Assisted Novel: Innovation or Cheating in Literature?
Why the integration of AI in creative writing is reshaping our understanding of the writer’s craft.
The Case of Rie Kudan
In the realm of literature and technology, a recent revelation has sparked both admiration and controversy.
I was just eating breakfast, when I read the news:
Japanese novelist Rie Kudan openly admitted to integrating AI, specifically ChatGPT, into the crafting of her award-winning sci-fi novel “Tokyo-to Dojo-to” (English: “The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy”).
The book is set in the future and revolves around a skyscraper prison in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and its architect Sara Makina, embodying a radical philosophy that “criminals deserve sympathy.”
The story delves into the architect’s internal conflicts with a society overly reliant on generative AI.
Intriguing, don’t you think?
Yet, what’s captivated more attention than the AI-centric narrative is the novel’s AI-assisted creation process.
The Highly Controversial 5% Inspiration
Described by the Akutagawa Jury as highly entertaining and “almost flawless,” Kudan estimated that AI’s contribution to her book was about 5%.
In her acceptance speech she shared that some of the dialogues were directly inspired by her conversations with ChatGPT, conversations she noted were filled with thoughts she’d never dare share with anyone else.
I remember pausing to chew my croissant when I read that.
Could it be that the (at least on the surface) non-judgmental space of AI evokes more human honesty, which then may lead to more captivating stories? We will get back to this thought in another post.
For now: hats off to Rie Kudan for her transparency!
However, as expected, this admission stirred quite a reaction on social media, which I stumbled upon during my morning ritual of scrolling through feeds — an unhealthy habit, I admit.
From Praise to Polemics: The Polarized Response to AI-Assisted Creativity
Comments ranged from critical to outright dismissive:
“Are robots now winning awards?”
“This is sheer cheating!”
“She should be stripped of the prize immediately!”
These were some of the more polite remarks amid a sea of skepticism questioning the authenticity of her work.
Yet, there were also voices that lauded her approach as innovative, highlighting the experimental nature of her method.
A pragmatic few — and I tend to count myself among them — argued that as long as the book is enjoyable, the means of its creation hold lesser importance.
Without having read the book myself, I reserve judgment on its quality. However, this situation has not only thrown the literary community into a state of turmoil but leads us to a pivotal question:
Is Writing with AI Cheating?
In my humble opinion, the use of AI in writing is no cause for alarm per se. The essence of a story, the depth of its characters, and the creativity of its plot must still originate from the author.
As we navigate this new landscape, the literary community is forced to reconsider what constitutes creativity and authorship in the age of artificial intelligence.
In the meantime, let me clarify something about AI-assisted writing: Assuming that one can produce an award-winning novel with the mere push of a button is a gross misunderstanding of generative language models.
AI, at its core, is a tool, akin to any other software, designed to assist but not replace the creative process.
Skeptical? Try asking ChatGPT to pen an award-winning novel, and you’ll likely be underwhelmed by the result.
Imagining the Unwritten Future
While opinions vary, one thing is clear: the integration of AI in creative writing is reshaping our understanding of the writer’s craft.
But beyond the controversy lies a more personal narrative about AI’s role as a partner in the creative process.
Stay tuned for my next articles, where I’ll dive into my own experiences with AI, exploring its impact on overcoming writer’s block and its potential to unlock new paths of creativity.
What’s Your Take?
As we stand on the brink of a new era in literature, what are your thoughts on integrating AI into the creative process? Is it a tool for innovation or a crutch that dilutes human creativity?
Or do we all just have a beer and play it cool?
Share your views in the comments below.
Have a good one ⚡️
