“Be Careful What You Write: AI’s Fiery Book Reviews Burn the ‘Woke’ Label”

**Fable’s AI-Powered Book Summaries Spark Controversy: Can AI Anticipate Harm?**

As social media platforms continue to weave intricate narratives about our online lives, recapping our reading habits, music tastes, and workout routines, a similar feature on the popular app Fable has raised eyebrows. The AI-powered book summary feature, designed to be playful and fun, had an unintended consequence – it sparked controversy by querying users about their “straight, cis white man’s perspective” and advising them not to “forget to surface for the occasional white author.”

The feature, dubbed “Reader Summary” on Fable, was meant to provide users with a summary of the books they read in 2024. However, the AI-generated text took an oddly combative tone, questioning users’ reading habits and their willingness to engage with diverse perspectives. The summaries, available on the app’s 2024 stats page, described certain readers as “diversity devotees” or asked if they were ever in the mood for a “straight, cis white man’s perspective.”

Moreover, many users found the summaries to be reflective of harmful biases, with some drawing parallels between the feature’s tone and anti-woke rhetoric. Books influencer Tiana Trammell, who was affected by the summaries, expressed her shock and disappointment on social media. “I received multiple messages from people whose summaries had inappropriately commented on disability and sexual orientation,” she revealed.

What went wrong?

To understand the controversy, it is essential to comprehend the role of AI in generating such summaries. Fable, like many other apps, relies on AI-powered tools to augment its features. The company used OpenAI’s API to generate summaries of users’ reading habits, but the AI model appeared to have learned biases from the vast amount of data it processed.

Fable’s apology and response

In response to the backlash, Fable acknowledged the harm caused by the summaries and apologized on social media. The company promised to make changes, including introducing an opt-out option and clearer disclosures indicating that the summaries are AI-generated. Fable also removed the portion of the AI model that playfully roasted readers, opting instead to summarize their book preferences.

However, not all users are satisfied with the apology and the proposed changes. Some, like fantasy and romance writer A.R. Kaufer, believe that Fable must go further and completely disable the feature. “They need to say they are doing away with the AI completely,” Kaufer emphasized. “And they need to issue a statement with an apology to those affected, not just about the AI, but also about its impact on users.”

**FAQs**

Q: What is Fable’s app?
A: Fable is a social media app designed for book lovers and bingewatchers.

Q: What is the purpose of Fable’s Reader Summary feature?
A: The feature is meant to provide a summary of users’ reading habits in 2024.

Q: Why did the feature generate summaries with harmful biases?
A: The AI model used by Fable learned biases from the vast amount of data it processed.

Q: How did Fable respond to the controversy?
A: Fable apologized on social media and promised to make changes, including introducing an opt-out option and clearer disclosures.

Q: What do experts recommend?
A: Experts suggest that Fable should disable the feature and conduct rigorous internal testing to ensure that the AI model does not perpetuate harm in the future.

**Conclusion**

The controversy surrounding Fable’s AI-powered book summaries serves as a reminder of the limitations and biases of AI technology. As social media platforms continue to rely on AI to generate content, it is essential to ensure that the AI models do not perpetuate harmful biases or stereotypes. Fable’s apology and promised changes are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the concerns of users and ensure that the feature does not harm those it intended to celebrate.