John Grisham on threat to authors from AI stories

John Grisham says he's concerned that the rise of AI may threaten the careers of writers because of the technology's cost-cutting capabilities.

The internationally renowned author was speaking with festival host and fellow author Ian Rankin before an audience at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Tuesday evening, where he discussed his journey from working in law and politics to becoming a writer recognised all over the world.

Grisham, 71, has written more than 30 novels, as well as a number of short stories, selling more than 300 million copies worldwide, but told the audience he is worried about the rise of AI, as well as other forms of media that may threaten literature as we know it.

"We're terrified because we Americans buy fewer books every year, our kids are reading fewer books every year," Grisham said.

"Publishers are worried, and the consumption of books in America has declined for 30 years. It's a very gradual decline … and now we have AI on top of that, and we're worried about what AI is going to do to publishing.

"We're going to reach a point where books like ours can be very well written by AI and somebody puts their name on it, and the publishers sell that.

"It costs them very little. God knows they're paying us a lot. They don't want to do that. Maybe that could happen."

However, he said, in spite of the decline, publishers are "doing okay" in the meantime.

"Not nobody, but a few people. We still sell a lot of books, and you know, publishers are making money.

"Thank God for e-books. They make so much money off e-books and audiobooks.

"Audio is the fastest-growing segment of the publishing business right now, and thank God for that. So, most publishers are doing okay."