If you ever
thought you could become a successful author by asking an algorithm to write
the next big isekai for you, we have bad news. The gigantic Japanese
platform Shousetsuka ni Narou, the paradise of amateur writers and
the main cradle of contemporary light novels, has just hit the table. From June
9, the administration will require all authors to declare whether they used
artificial intelligence tools to write their works, in addition to strictly
prohibiting the publication of stories whose body of text has been generated
entirely by a computer.
This
drastic decision is not a simple whim of the moderators. The site has
implemented a system of four very specific categories that users must select
before publishing. Authors will have to indicate if the text was created
directly by a program, if it was used indirectly as a draft, if it served as an
aid to correct spelling errors or if the work is one hundred percent human. The
company behind the portal explained that this measure seeks to avoid
catastrophic misunderstandings when one of these stories catches the attention
of large publishers. Hiding the use of these technological tools could lead to
huge copyright problems right at the time of signing contracts to release
physical books or manga.
Protecting
the future of the animated industry
To measure
the true impact of this new policy, just look at the incredible track record of
the page. We are talking about the website that saw the birth of world-class
franchises such as Re:Zero, Mushoku Tensei and That
Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. With more than 200 animated adaptations
originating from its forums, nearly three million registered users, and an
imminent commercial support program to help writers connect with production
companies, the platform needs to make sure that its immense catalog remains
totally free of legal conflicts. The measures are so serious that starting in
September, even old novels that do not update their settings on the use of
technology will be blocked and will not be able to receive new chapters.
This move
marks a very important precedent for how the Asian literary industry is
reacting to the accelerated advances in automated text generation. Knowing that
many novice authors use virtual assistants to overcome creative blocks or to
improve their writing
