‘The potential to undermine democracy’: European publishing trade bodies call for action on generative AI

Three organisations argue that more transparency is needed after research found AI models have been trained using pirated works by authors such as Zadie Smith and Stephen King

Three major European publishing trade bodies have urged the EU to “act now” on transparency over artificial intelligence for the sake of “the book chain and democracy”.

As the world’s largest book fair began in Frankfurt, an online statement published on Wednesday called for co-legislators to “seize the opportunity” of the EU’s AI act – which classifies AI systems according to the risk they pose to users and applies regulation accordingly – to “ensure the transparency” of generative AI and “make it safer for European citizens”.