Wall Street Journal columnist and author Joanna Stern publicly called out Apple on YouTube Shorts after discovering more than ten AI-generated counterfeit copies of her book on Apple Books. Shortly after the release of 'I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything,' Stern found that the platform hosted numerous knockoffs featuring similar covers, with at least one published under a slightly misspelled version of her name.
The discovery and public outcry
In a YouTube Shorts video, Stern recounted how she reported the issue to Apple, which removed the books. However, new versions reappeared soon after. The situation mirrors what happened two years ago when author Kara Swisher faced a wave of AI-generated clones of 'Burn Book: A Tech Love Story' on Amazon. Swisher, leveraging her connections with Amazon's leadership, managed to get the knockoffs removed, but most authors lack such access.
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Apple's response and comparison with Amazon
Apple told Stern that it has transparency and disclosure rules for AI-generated content on Apple Books, and its policies 'strictly prohibit content that misleads customers or infringes on copyright.' Yet the continued reappearance of fakes raises doubts about enforcement. Stern also tested Amazon, where she found and purchased two workbooks based on her book. After her report, Amazon removed them, showing improvement in handling the issue. The comparison highlights how digital platforms still struggle to combat AI-generated counterfeits despite stated policies. This case joins a broader debate on platform accountability, similar to discussions that led Australia to double fines for social media violating under-16 bans, with penalties up to 99 million dollars, signaling stricter regulation.
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The global issue of AI book counterfeits
The phenomenon of AI-generated knockoffs affects authors at all levels. While prominent figures like Swisher and Stern manage to get attention and removals, many independent writers remain unprotected. The ease with which AI can replicate covers and texts makes it difficult for platforms to distinguish originals from fakes. More advanced detection tools and better collaboration with authors are needed. To learn more about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, consult the Wikipedia page on artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Stern urges the community to report any fakes and calls on Apple for greater transparency in the removal process to prevent readers from being deceived by unauthorized works.
