Generative AI May Be Reshaping Demand for Specialized Books Before Big Franchises

Tim Ferriss has said ChatGPT hurt demand for his specialized nonfiction book The 4-Hour Chef, because readers can quickly look up similar information through the chatbot. The example suggests generative AI may replace some specialized informational books before it significantly affects major fiction franchises.

The Kindle bookstore was said to have seen submissions rise roughly threefold, although the extent to which AI directly caused that increase remains unclear. Sales of established franchises such as Harry Potter were expected to remain strong.

AI may soon be able to write some genre fiction, including romantasy. Large-scale world-building fiction was described as more difficult, with the timeline for convincing AI-generated work left uncertain; an ironic estimate put it at least two or three months away.