The National Library and Archives Explores Publishing Affairs and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on it.

The National Library and Archives organized a virtual lecture titled “Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in the Publishing Sector,” as a key player in cultural production. The lecture addressed the transformation and developments witnessed in the world of publishing with the emergence of artificial intelligence and the evolution of publishing platforms. It also discussed the impact of AI on authors and readers, as well as the legal implications of AI-assisted publications.
The lecture included several topics covering aspects of the publishing sector and its influence by AI. The lecture featured the contribttions from Mrs. Fatima Al Hudaidi, Head of Publishing Unit at the NLA, and Mr. Jamal AL Shehhi, Emirati writer, publisher, and General Director of Kuttab Publishing House.
The lecture emphasized that more than 80% of authors rely on AI in their literary works. A skilled writer can use AI to develop ideas, organize and proofread, while an average writer can benefit from AI in enhancing their tools. AI acts as a technical assistant in writing research, but research that fully relies on it is easier to detect. Therefore, the future belongs to authors who leverage from AI assistance without fully relying on it.
AL Shehhi said: “Kuttab Publishing House prefers to deal with original content that reflect the writer’s ideas, style, and personal touch. However, reliance on AI has become a reality and a necessity, prompting publishing houses to acknowledge it and agree on a usage percetage not exceeding 20% as stipulated in the contract terms between authors and publishing house.” He also emphasized that they have their own methods for detecting the level of AI reliance on artificial intelligence in the material.”
The lecture pointed out that despite the significant impact of artificial intelligence on publishing, the publishing industry will remain ongoing and continue to play its role in the production of culture. It was noted that some global platforms, such as Amazon, indicate that certain works are labeled “written with the help of artificial intelligence,” meaning the author provided the ideas to AI, and the AI wrote them. While the reader has the freedom to purchase the book, the challenge lies in counterfeiting and false claims.
The lecture also revealed the role of artificial intelligence in evaluating and critiquing literary and cultural texts, making the challenge and competition not only between the writer and both technical and human publishers but also with critics. It highlighted that publishing houses also cater to readers’ commercial interests due to their significance, emphasizing the existing gap in writing for young readers, which receives attention from publishers. Additionally, there is a focus on attracting science fiction books and those related to space, in response to future aspirations, along with important translated works, and a focus on heritage and history books at certain stages.
Al-Shahhi emphasized the importance of encouraging researchers and authors, noting that this is vital for revitalizing the publishing sector. He pointed out that some countries view the publishing sector as an independent industry, while others consider it part of the cultural industry. In many cases, it is considered more of a task than an industry, much like the tourism industry, for example.
The lecture concluded that AI is not only reshaping publishing, but also empowering authorrs in the digital age. AI tools have contributed to reducing production time by more than 50%, thanks to the ease of publishing and global distributionThis has made books more readily available to readers faster than ever before. In short, AI benefits the book and the author more than the publisher.