As AI continues to roil the publishing industry, readers are split on how comfortable they are with its use in the books they consume, with more acceptance from younger readers but full disclosure preferred by all, according to a new survey of U.S. book buyers.
BookInsights.ai, a data consultancy launched this year by former Circana BookScan executive David Walter, sought input from 5,025 people who bought a book in the last three months. The survey found that just 22% are okay with the use of AI at any stage of creating a book, including the writing, while 28% don’t want it in books at all. Forty-five percent said they don’t mind if an author uses AI as an assistant or for checking grammar and spelling.
The results diverged sharply among age groups: 36% of teenagers are open to AI being used at any stage of the writing of a book, while only 11% of people over 55 agreed.
A clear majority of readers of all ages—85%—said
However, a clear majority of readers of all ages—85%—said books should disclose whether AI was used in the writing process, the survey said.
“The buyers most open to AI being used in book content still want disclosure at exactly the rate of the buyers most opposed,” according to BookInsights’ blog that details initial results of its survey.
Full results will be released in November, per BookInsights, including an analysis of who buys books, where they buy them, what drives their purchases, and more.
