The Emirates Publishers Association affirmed that artificial intelligence represents a revolution commonly described as a significant advancement for improvement in various fields, as many people have already begun using it and benefiting from it. It pointed out that the publishing industry has joined this technological revolution, utilizing advanced programs in preparing and designing books, developing effective content descriptions, producing e-books and audiobooks, as well as marketing and advertising and other stages of creative production. While some embrace this revolutionary transformation and engage with it, others fear it and view it with tension.
The association indicated that integrating artificial intelligence solutions has become a necessity in the modern publishing field, expressing various perspectives and diverse views on this issue, but it emphasized everyone’s consensus that technology plays a vital role in enhancing the reader’s experience and disseminating knowledge.
Abdullah Al Kaabi, the President of the Emirates Publishers Association and the founder of “Dar Al Ramsah for Publishing Services” believes that artificial intelligence is a tool that assists Emirati publishers in streamlining various operations, especially in marketing and disseminating content on social media platforms, in addition to providing information on market trends and generating ideas related to designs and titles. He pointed out that one of the key challenges is to provide the necessary knowledge to effectively use these tools and educate the team on innovation and excellence.
Al Kaabi believes that artificial intelligence tools still face challenges in the publishing field currently but expects significant progress in the near future. He states that using these tools properly will facilitate many processes, and publishers can benefit from them better through optimal usage training and encouraging employees to experiment.
Al Kaabi said about intellectual property:
“It is a complex issue, especially with artificial intelligence technologies, but in my view, the discerning reader will not be affected by electronic production, and publishers should be wiser in selecting the texts they publish. We may see some books distinguished by the phrase ‘assisted by artificial intelligence’, but Al Kaabi does not expect these technologies to affect the quality of content or reach a day where writing is solely delegated to artificial intelligence, as each creative and successful writer has their unique writing style. Artificial intelligence may help facilitate the writer’s work, but it will not overshadow their creative role.”
Ashraf Shahin, the owner of “Al Burj Media for Publishing and Distribution,” stated that there are several advantages to using artificial intelligence technologies in the publishing industry, such as using technology advancedly to produce content that aligns with the modern age and suits the readers. However, he highlighted significant challenges related to the legal aspects of copyright and authorship rights, raising concerns among many individuals, especially rights holders and those working in this industry.
Shahin believes that improving the future requires developing plans by those concerned with books and culture to support thought, content, and publishing amidst technological progress and advancements.
Author and publisher Fahad Al Falasi, founder of “Dar Fahad Al Falasi for Book Publishing,” stated that artificial intelligence technologies play a vital role in facilitating proofreading and identifying literary theft cases, along with predicting readers’ preferences. However, these technologies carry some negatives, such as the risk of turning creativity into an automated process. From his perspective, he finds that the entry of such technologies into the publishing field does not pose a threat but looks forward to benefiting from them and evolving with them. He stresses the importance of developing laws and educating people on how to deal with challenges like literary forgery emerging from the use of artificial intelligence technologies.
