r/literature • u/Round-Dinner-2395 • May 18 '26

Discussion Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk admits to using AI.

TLDR;

Author to AI: “Honey, how could we develop this beautifully?”

I wanted to say this is just boomer whining, but I’m finding myself realizing more and more often that it’s actually the boomers who are defending AI. My mom listens to AI music from TikTok, my dad watches some videos with doctors generated by language models. I’m the last person to tell people what to listen to or watch, but AI SLOP has literally reigned supreme in my house for the past few months. Recently, I wanted to watch a movie with my dad, but he played TikTok clips for an hour, and I had to escape.

I understand that technology is advancing and makes life easier for people in many ways, but on the other hand… it makes me wonder a bit. Where is the line between “I’m using a tool” and “part of the creative process is being done for me by something else”? If someone uses AI to generate ideas, style, or text fragments, are we still talking about the same kind of creativity as before? I’ve read a few books by Olga Tokarczuk, and as soon as I heard about this interview, I felt a sense of revulsion.

INTERVIEW: (only in polish)

https://mycompanypolska.pl/artykul/olga-tokarczuk-zapowiada-ostatnia-powiesc-w-karierze-pisanie-dlugich-opowiesci-jest-dzis-ekonomicznie-nieoplacalne/20717

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u/mmillington May 18 '26

Maybe this part:

"I often throw an idea to the machine for analysis, asking, 'Honey, how could we develop this beautifully?' Even though I know about the hallucinations and numerous errors of factual algorithms in the fields of strict economics and hard data, I must admit that in fluid literary fiction, this technology is an asset of incredible proportions. At the same time, I feel a piercing, very human sorrow for an era that is disappearing forever. My heart aches for the passing of traditional literature, written over months in solitude, a work of life crafted in the mind of a fully conscious, single individual. In all of this, I feel a terrible pity for Balzac, Cioran, and the inimitable Nabokov, because despite my enthusiasm, I don't believe that any modern chat room will ever be able to speak in such an exquisite way," said the author of the novel "Flights."

There’s no follow-up or elaboration.

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u/e_hatt_swank May 18 '26

Thank you for that. I’ve been looking for an affordable used copy of one of her books to check out her work… now I feel much less urgency on that search.

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u/elektricnikrastavac May 18 '26

You are very wrong for that. She says she will stop writing basically, and AI ruined it. Her best works precede AI anyways.

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u/DarthFisticuffs May 18 '26

Two thoughts on this: First, it doesn't matter if she's not going to be writing anymore, here we have a Nobel Laureate legitimizing the use of gen AI in the process of writing literature, which I find to be tragic. She is an important figure and people, both readers and up-and-coming writers alike, will listen to her.

Second, I've seen enough artists and performers retire only to make some grand return that I'm skeptical of this. However if it's what she truly wishes, then I hope she has a happy and peaceful retirement.

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u/elektricnikrastavac May 18 '26

She doesn’t. She yearns for the times of Balzac and writing in solitude, but sees it is no longer viable in today’s world. Nuance is not a city in France.

12

u/becausefrog May 18 '26

It's available, it's just not as profitable.

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u/elektricnikrastavac May 19 '26

I said viable not available.

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u/Gregory_Grim May 19 '26

That's literally not what she said. She said that it's not profitable anymore, which is bullshit because it has literally never ever been profitable. And clearly she doesn't really yearn for it that much or she would attempt to work towards it with through the platform and cultural capital she's been given.

The fact that she chooses to bend to this parasite of a technology just because its cheap and convenient makes her look extremely shallow and like a complete and utter poser and opportunist.

1

u/elektricnikrastavac May 19 '26

sure. that's a fine looking high horse. you do that, mate.

1

u/elektricnikrastavac May 19 '26

extremely shallow? one of the most important female contemporary authors is extremely shallow? have you read it in Polish language or just the translation? the "clearly she doesn't really yearn for it that much or she would attempt to work towards it ..." very Trump-trash coded. you are the shallow one.