SCIENCE & TECH: Author uses AI generators, including ChatGPT, to write nearly 100 books in less than a year

A science fiction author has used artificial intelligence generators, including ChatGPT, to write and illustrate nearly 100 books in less than a year.

Tim Boucher said he utilized the smart technology to publish 97 mini-novels in the last nine months.

“My goal was straightforward: To craft a series of unique, captivating ebooks, merging dystopian pulp sci-fi with compelling AI world-building,” Boucher wrote in an article for Newsweek.

“The ‘AI Lore books,’ as I’ve come to call them, are a testament to the potential of AI in augmenting human creativity.”

The author said he used AI chatbots ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude to help with brainstorming and text generation, while AI image generator Midjourney was used to illustrate the novels.

Each of his books are up to 5,000 words and feature 40 to 140 AI-generated images.

Unlike normal authors, who agonize over hundreds of self-written pages for months, Boucher’s books take a mere six to eight hours to write.

His quickest feat only took him three hours, he revealed. 

Between August and May, Boucher has made $2,000 and sold more than 500 copies of his stories. 

He even designed the AI Lore series to cross reference each other, allowing readers to be drawn in time and time again through “interconnected narratives.” 

“This approach has been successful, with the majority of my readers being repeat buyers,” Boucher said.

“​​Many readers often come back to purchase six or eight or even ten more volumes in a single session, which suggests that length does not limit engagement or sales,” he continued.

“Though the stories contained are not sequential narratives, I think the serial fiction market of the late 1800s and early 1900s is probably the best historical analog here. People enjoy coming back to the same story-worlds again and again, and AI lets me produce rapidly at a consistent quality to meet their demand for more.”

Another perk for readers, Boucher says, is that he is able to sell his books for as little as $1.99 — with the highest price being $3.99.

The author also insisted it has boosted his creativity by allowing him to achieve “efficiency I could never have achieved otherwise.”

“I’ve been able to breathe life into stories and narrative universes that have been brewing in my mind for years. I’ve even used AI to help me code mini-applications that will further streamline [and speed up the creative process in the future,” Boucher, who sells his books on his website, wrote in Newsweek. 

“Contrary to the popular belief that AI will replace creative jobs, I see AI as a powerful tool to enhance and accelerate our capabilities and capacities, and to make us better at whatever we do,” he continued.

“It’s inevitable that all artists will encounter and make use of AI tools to some extent; it will just be about finding the right combination that works for you.”

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However, Boucher is also aware that AI has its downfalls too, such as its inability to produce a coherent long-form story — which is why he sticks to “flash” pieces. 

Still, despite its downfalls, the science fiction writer envisions a “future where AI-assisted storytelling becomes the norm.” 

AI-generated novels have created a booming marketplace in recent months.

In February, more than 200 titles were co-authored by ChapGPT, according to Business Insider.

Ammaar Reshi, a product design manager, recently received criticism online after he used AI to create and self-publish a children’s book in just 72 hours.

Authors and creators slammed his book, “Alice and Sparkle,” for stealing their work, while others critiqued the writing. 

Despite the backlash some authors have received, Boucher isn’t worried: “I am convinced that the intersection of AI and storytelling holds enormous potential, and I am eager to see where this journey takes us next. Our imagination is the only limit.”

The Post has reached out to Boucher for comment.