'The Satanic Verses' Rushdie: "AI Lacks Originality and Humor"

Asked to write like himself but fell short
"Could be a threat to thriller and science fiction writers
Still not ready to challenge serious authors..."

British author Salman Rushdie, famous for the novel "The Satanic Verses," expressed the view that writing tools using artificial intelligence (AI) do not pose a threat to literary writers.

AFP reported on the 20th (local time) that Rushdie contributed an article to the French literary magazine La Nouvelle Revue Fran?aise (NRF). Rushdie stated, "AI tools may pose a threat to thriller and science fiction writers, but they lack the humor and originality to challenge serious authors."

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) [Photo by Pixabay]

He also shared his experience of asking the generative AI ChatGPT to write a 200-character passage in his style. The text produced by ChatGPT was described as "nonsense rubbish." He said, "Anyone who has read even one page of my book would not think the author is me," adding, "I feel somewhat reassured."

However, he noted that generative AI writing tools could be a threat to formulaic writers. He predicted, "Generative AI writing tools could be a concern for literary authors in genres like thrillers or science fiction, where originality is less important."

Salman Rushdie [Photo by AP/ Yonhap News]

He pointed out that this threat could be especially serious for film and TV writers. Rushdie explained, "Considering that Hollywood keeps producing new versions of the same movies, AI could be used to create scripts."

Rushdie is an author who lost sight in one eye due to an assassination attempt by a Muslim in 2022. He had faced decades of death threats for his 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses," which was considered blasphemous for its depiction of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Publishers, translators, and bookstores were targeted by terrorists.

While receiving high-level security in London, he moved to New York in 2000 and lived without protection. In August 2022, he suffered serious injuries after being stabbed 15 times in the face, hands, and torso by Hadi Matar (24), a Lebanese-American who rushed the stage at a literary event in New York. Rushdie lost sight in one eye and sustained nerve damage in his left arm, requiring rehabilitation treatment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.