Unchecked AI-generated novels raise ethical, creative concerns in Cairo

CAIRO – The 2026 Cairo International Book Fair has become the epicentre of a heated debate over artificial intelligence and the future of literature, following the appearance of AI-generated novels on its stands. Social media has erupted with criticism and concern over the creative value of these works, with many questioning whether the human touch, the nuance and emotion of a writer’s experience, can survive in the age of automated writing.

Much of the controversy stems from novels released without proper author review. Readers discovered glaring errors, incoherent passages and crude phrasing, content that appeared to emerge straight from AI algorithms without human oversight. One excerpt, widely-circulated online, highlighted a section left unchecked by the author, igniting further concern about the integrity of such works.

Renowned writer Shamma Ahmad expressed her alarm, noting that AI-assisted writing has led many publishers to neglect the essential processes of proofreading and editorial review.

“This trend risks producing printed books reliant on copy-and-paste output without any real verification,” she said.

“The rise of AI-generated content makes human editorial oversight seem secondary, with some editors even relying on AI itself, allowing errors to pass unnoticed.”

Ahmed questioned on X (formerly Twitter) whether the literary world is entering an era where human literature is being replaced by packaged AI products. She warned that the phenomenon reflects legitimate fears about the future of storytelling, especially given examples of AI-generated books featuring repeated paragraphs, disconnected dialogues and structural lapses, signs of authors and publishers taking shortcuts in the creative process.

While the debate over AI in literature is not new, it has intensified with the evolution of tools such as ChatGPT, which make writing faster but often produce content that lacks emotional depth and personal experience.

Ahmed emphasised, “AI is not a replacement for human creativity; it is a tool that can be either helpful or destructive, depending on its use. It can generate text quickly, but it cannot convey metaphors, cultural context or the lived experiences that give literature its vitality.”

Activists and readers have described the publication of unchecked AI-generated novels as a “scandal” for both authors and publishing houses. Many argue that a novel unable to move the reader emotionally is inherently incomplete and question whether AI will ever truly evoke human feelings.

President of the Arab Publishers Association Mohamed Rashad acknowledged that AI-generated novels at the fair were to be expected, noting that similar projects have occurred abroad, including a full AI-generated novel released in England in 2022 without legal issues. Rashad also highlighted that AI-assisted cover design is increasingly common and poses no threat to the publishing industry.

However, he warned that the real issue arises when AI-generated content borrows or copies from existing literary works, infringing copyright.

“The crucial factor is respecting the rights of original authors, whether the work is created traditionally or with AI assistance,” he said.

“Any literary work proven to copy or appropriate another author’s text without legal permission constitutes a clear violation that must be addressed.”

The Cairo Book Fair debate underscores the tensions in contemporary literature, as traditional creativity grapples with rapidly advancing technologies. While AI offers unprecedented tools for writers and publishers, the event has reignited discussions on ethics, originality and the irreplaceable role of human sensibility in storytelling.