Sci-fi author Tim Boucher recently shared his remarkable achievement of creating 97 books within a span of nine months, thanks to the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). In an article published by Newsweek, Boucher revealed that he utilized various AI tools to bring his vision to life.
Boucher employed the AI image generator called Midjourney to illustrate the contents of his books. For brainstorming and text generation, he relied on ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. Each of his novels ranged from 2,000 to 5,000 words and included an impressive 40 to 140 AI-generated images. The author mentioned that, on average, it took him approximately six to eight hours to create and publish a book using AI tools, although some could be completed in as little as three hours.
To make his creations available to the public, Boucher opted to sell his books online, with prices ranging from $1.99 to $3.99 per copy. In his article for Newsweek, he expressed his appreciation for the role AI played in his creative process, noting that it significantly boosted his productivity while maintaining consistent quality. Furthermore, AI tools enabled him to delve into intricate world-building with unparalleled efficiency.
The market has recently witnessed a surge in AI-generated novels. In February, ChatGPT was attributed as the author or coauthor of over 200 titles listed in Amazon’s bookstore. The genres that garnered the most attention were AI guides and children’s books.
One example of AI-assisted book creation comes from Ammaar Reshi, a product-design manager at a San Francisco-based financial-tech company. Reshi revealed that he utilized ChatGPT and Midjourney to write and illustrate a children’s book titled “Alice and Sparkle” in just 72 hours. However, the book stirred controversy on Twitter, as it faced backlash from creatives. Concerns were raised regarding the use of AI image generators and the perceived quality of the writing.
The advent of AI in the realm of book creation has opened up new possibilities, allowing authors like Tim Boucher to expand their creative output. While these developments have sparked debates within the artistic community, it is undeniable that AI continues to reshape the landscape of literary expression.
