At the intersection of technology and literature, Five Books, a trusted book recommendation platform, recently used ChatGPT to suggest the best reads on artificial intelligence. Following this experiment, interviews with several Large Language Models (LLMs) on books about India revealed promising results.
An unlikely collaboration: AI and literature
The LLMs recommended notable works such as “India after Gandhi” by Ram Chandra Guha and “The Argumentative Indian” by Amartya Sen. Interestingly, ChatGPT suggested Suketu Mehta’s ‘This Land Is Our Land’, highlighting his deep understanding of immigration, a subject of considerable importance in contemporary India.
The big debate: AI curation
However, the prospect of replacing human curation with AI tools has sparked heated debate. NS Ramnath, a colleague of the author, questioned the uniqueness of the LLM recommendations, pointing out their lack of diversity beyond a certain scope. IISER researchers echoed this concern, highlighting the limitations of LLMs in academic work due to the need for human oversight.
Ethical concerns and the role of human experts
Ethical concerns have also been raised about the ability of LLMs to reflect bias and neglect niche perspectives due to their reliance on existing data. This suggests the continued importance of human experts in areas such as book recommendations, where nuanced understanding and diversity of thought are highly valued.
In an age where technology increasingly permeates every aspect of life, this experience and the debate that followed highlight the complex interplay between AI and human creativity. Although AI tools like ChatGPT can provide valuable insights, they are not without limitations and potential biases. As such, the role of human experts remains crucial in navigating these nuances and ensuring a balanced, diverse and inclusive approach to conservation.
The debate around AI curation is far from over, but one thing is clear: the future of literature and knowledge dissemination will likely involve a delicate dance between human expertise and the power of AI. ‘AI. As we continue to explore this dynamic, it is essential to prioritize ethical considerations, diversity, and the preservation of human creativity.
Ultimately, the goal is not to replace human curation with AI but to find a harmonious balance where the two can coexist, complementing and reinforcing each other’s strengths. After all, the beauty of literature lies not only in its content, but also in the unique human perspectives it offers – a quality that no AI, no matter how advanced, can fully replicate.
