South African author Coral Hart is defending her use of artificial intelligence after publishing more than 370 books in 20 months, as debate grows over the technology’s role in creative writing and the publishing industry.
Coral Hart says authors must be prepared for criticism as artificial intelligence reshapes publishing, amid controversy over a Haitian-Canadian writer dropped by his publisher over AI use.
“I get some of the hate and I get some of the pushback,” Hart says. “I’ve been in publishing long enough to know that if you’re going to publish something, you have to have thick skin.”
Hart’s output has drawn attention to the growing use of AI tools in book production, with questions emerging over authorship, originality and the role of human creativity in literature.
The technology can assist writers with tasks such as drafting, editing and developing ideas, but its use has also raised concerns among readers, writers and publishers about transparency and the value placed on human-written work.
For Hart, the criticism reflects the challenges of working in a publishing landscape undergoing rapid technological change. Her defence adds to a wider debate about how authors should use AI and what readers deserve to know about the process behind the books they buy.
As AI becomes more accessible, publishers and writers continue to grapple with questions about disclosure, creative ownership and the standards that should guide its use in literature.
