A new certification for human-authored books amid AI controversies

A British startup, Books by People, has launched a certification process to label books as 'organic,' meaning they are written by humans. The certification, approved by the UK’s Intellectual Property Office, involves a thumbprint-like mark on book covers. Esme Dennys, cofounder of Books by People, emphasized the importance of providing readers with the choice to find human-authored works. The startup charges publishers a membership fee and an additional cost per book. Five publishers have signed up, with the first certified book expected by year-end. The publishing industry faces growing scrutiny over AI use, with scandals involving AI-generated content and allegations of fraud. Writers and publishers argue that while AI may not replace human storytelling, the trust in human authorship is at risk. Markus Dohle, former CEO of Penguin Random House, praised the initiative, calling human storytelling the lifeblood of the industry. However, authors warn against the risks of false positives and the potential for a witch hunt. Pangram, a leading AI detection startup, claims 99.7% accuracy, but authors like Jerry Falade have criticized its methods. Books by People, instead of relying on AI detection, focuses on examining documents and communication trails for signs of humanity. Dennys emphasized that the organization aims to avoid unjust accusations against writers. Authors stress the importance of publishers upholding human authorship as a nonnegotiable standard, even if enforcement methods are imperfect.