In a world of generative AI, recognising human creativity is vital
The Human Authored logo scheme enables authors to declare that their work has been created by a human, and not using generative AI.
Today’s online marketplace is increasingly flooded with AI-generated books and human authored works need to stand out.
Readers who value the skill, empathy and imagination it takes to craft an original work should be able to clearly distinguish these from AI-generated content. Authors need to showcase and protect their creative labour whilst being paid fairly for it.
Whilst the onus should be on tech companies to label AI-generated content, until that happens, this additional labelling can help to identify the work of authors as being created with uniquely human skill and originality.
The scheme offers a clear, trustworthy marker to display on books and publicity, and a register of listed works.
It is currently available free-of-charge to Society of Authors members. It applies to text-based work. Our aspiration is to open the scheme to illustrated works and to non-members in the future.
The Human Authored scheme seeks to highlight the imagination, commitment, craft and care taken to produce stories and books which can be enjoyed by everyone.
Campaigning for a fair deal for authors
The Human Authored scheme has been created by the Society of Authors in partnership with the US Authors Guild.
As the largest professional organisation representing authors in the UK since 1884, the SoA is campaigning to safeguard authors’ interests in the face of generative AI’s rapid development.
Thousands of creative careers are threatened by the impact of unregulated generative AI. In our surveys of members, we found that:
- 57% of authors say their career is no longer sustainable
- 26% of illustrators and 36% of literary translators report cancelled or redirected commissions
- 43% of literary translators and 37% of SoA illustrators saw earnings fall because of AI
- 86% of authors say GenAI has already reduced their earnings
The Society of Authors has been calling on the UK Government to implement a new AI regulatory framework to protect the livelihoods of authors and other creatives, or risk the UK’s £124.6 billion creative industries.