Blockchain and AI: Redefining Authorship in Publishing
Self-publishing has empowered authors around the world to bypass the traditional gatekeepers of the publishing industry and share their work with the world.
However, as the industry tries to keep pace with modernity, the self-published platform Bussi has embraced blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI).
In an interview with Cointelegraph, Booksy founder and CEO Sol Nassi shared his vision for the future of self-publishing, built on the powerful combination of these new technologies.
Blockchain: transparency and ownership for authors
The idea of blockchain is not necessarily a new phenomenon in the publishing industry. In the year In 2018, the Alliance of Free Authors launched Blockchain for Books, a campaign to raise awareness of the potential of blockchain technology in publishing. It resulted in a handbook called Authors and Blockchain.
A core principle of the blockchain network, a shared public ledger, can serve as a mechanism to allow authors to regain control of their work and access valuable information.
Since many traditional web sites are closed behind “walled gardens,” as Nasici explained, blockchain could provide an additional way for authors to sell their books.
“Blockchain [creates] A new digital book publishing and shopping experience complete with genuine ownership, rare books in limited editions and opportunities for book collectors and sellers to participate in foreign markets.
Beyond financial benefits, blockchain provides transparency and empowers authors to protect their work.
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“Continuity and clarity create a way for the author to prove that they created the work,” Nasisi says. This is especially relevant in a world concerned with AI-generated content.
AI: Empowering writers, not replacing them.
Accessible AI has become more mainstream in the past year, and is integrated into the business operations of companies across all industries globally.
However, authors have already learned about the technology that allegedly illegally used their work. In July, author Sarah Silverman sued Meta and OpenAI for using copyrighted work to train their AI systems without permission.
In September 2023, a similar lawsuit was filed by the Author Guild against OpenAI, accusing it of misusing copyrighted material in training AI models.
However, Nasci emphasized that AI can be used as a tool for authors, not to replace or exploit them or their work.
“We never want to have AI writing the story for an author.”
He said he designed the Buxi iBot integration to help writers provide feedback on works of fiction and non-fiction.
The disruptive duo of blockchain and AI
Looking at the combined potential of blockchain and AI, Nasici says the two will “fundamentally change” how the publishing industry operates in the next 10 years.
“He envisions a future where writers combine their creativity with AI and blockchain to create entire worlds across multiple media and connect with fans in new ways,” he said.
This future could include using AI to help authors write books, then using blockchain to create limited editions, video series, games based on the story world, and merchandise.
The impact of this technology integration goes beyond printing. Nazizi highlights other industries that are ripe for disruption.
“AI is changing how higher education is taught, and blockchain is delivering the authenticity of learning through data.”
He likens the two technologies to yin and yang, feeding each other and creating a new style.
Buxi and its partner Chainletter Labs are actively working towards this vision. “The publishing industry will never be the same,” Nasisi concludes.
Led by blockchain and AI, self-publishing is poised to empower authors like never before, creating a future full of exciting new opportunities for creators and readers alike.
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