Half of surveyed UK novelists fear AI could replace their work entirely
A Cambridge survey found 51% of UK novelists fear AI could entirely replace their writing work, with 39% already losing income.Summary
A University of Cambridge report, "The Impact of Generative AI on the Novel," surveyed 332 writers and publishing professionals between February and May 2025, including 258 published novelists. It found that 51% of participating novelists believed AI would likely replace their fiction-writing work entirely, 39% said generative AI had already reduced their income, and 85% expected future earnings to decline. Many authors reported competition from AI-generated books, unauthorized books listed under their names, and AI-generated reviews. Romance writers were seen as most threatened (66%), followed by thriller (61%) and crime (60%) authors, while literary fiction was rated at 32%. About a third of novelists used generative AI for non-creative tasks, but 97% felt extremely negative about AI writing entire novels. Among the 59% who knew their work had been used to train AI, 99% had not given permission and none received payment. Most respondents (86%) favored an opt-in licensing model with permission and payment. The report recommends transparency, fair payment, and clearer contract guidance, warning of risks to both writers' livelihoods and literary diversity.
(Source：The Brighter Side of News)