Authors Confronting the Rise of AI-Created Literature

How can authors protect their work in an age where AI-generated books are proliferating on platforms like Amazon? This article addresses the **urgent challenge** faced by writers in the spirituality and occult genres as they encounter a surge of self-published titles that appear to be created or plagiarized by AI.

• The alarming increase in books published by seemingly non-existent authors
• The strategies legitimate authors are employing to combat this trend
• The broader implications for the publishing industry and consumer safety

Readers will gain insights into the ongoing battle between human creativity and AI-driven content creation, understanding **why** this issue matters not only for authors but also for readers seeking authentic literary experiences.

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Auryn's Encounter with Plagiarism

In 2022, author Mat Auryn discovered the alarming trend of book theft when he noticed a title in his Amazon recommendations that mirrored his own work. This incident was sparked by the success of his book Psychic Witch, leading him to purchase Awakening Your Witchy Intuition and Psychic Abilities by Glinda Porter.

"I started skimming through and I was like, 'Holy shit, this is my book,'" he noted.

Glinda Porter, the apparent author, barely has an online presence aside from a brief biography that claims she is "an African spiritualist who has been practicing intentional magick since 1995." While her publisher, Magickal Witches LLC, insists she is real, they failed to provide any proof regarding her existence, stating her book "was not intentionally plagiarized."

Recurring Issues with Published Works

Following his initial encounter, Auryn identified at least three additional books that closely imitated his work, featuring similar titles with minor tweaks in the text. A firm specializing in AI detection found that at least two of these books likely utilized AI technology, a growing concern for authors striving to maintain the integrity of their craft.

"Some of the books seem to have run through some sort of AI program that just changes words here and there, or may rephrase a sentence or two," Auryn remarked.

His publisher, Llewellyn Worldwide, has reported these incidents to Amazon, successfully removing these infringing works, only for them to resurface later. Authors face the challenge of not being able to directly contact those who upload such books, as Amazon safeguards their contact details.

Identifying Further Copycat Works

Auryn called attention to a book titled Psychic Witch Magick by Melissa Gomes, which appeared to replicate his 2020 publication almost identically, including the table of contents. Gomes boasts an extensive collection of 114 titles, including Cosmic Body Astrology and Amazing Astral Projection, yet only provides a vague biography along with a stock photo of an older woman. This image has also been used across various online listicles.

Although Gomes's Psychic Witch Magick has garnered several positive reviews and maintains an overall 4.1-star rating, it contains critical feedback, with one user pointing out, "This was written by a robot. There are sections that are repeated, unfinished paragraphs, and the book lacks coherence."

AI Detection Firm Confirms Suspicion

Originality.ai, a U.S. entity specializing in detecting AI-generated content, assessed three books for CBC’s report. The results revealed:

• The sample from Gomes's Psychic Witch Magick registered a score of 97 percent for AI likelihood.
• Two samples from Silva's Dark Goddesses scored 95 and 99 percent.
• Two samples from Mahdi Qhurbani's Psychic Witch, which Auryn claimed plagiarized him, achieved a perfect 100 percent on the AI detection scale.

A higher score indicates a greater likelihood of AI utilization, with 100 being the highest. This indicates that the firm is highly confident that all three works employed AI-based writing tools similar to ChatGPT. Although Porter's book currently lacks an online sample and is marked as "currently unavailable" on Amazon, the publisher maintains that it does not produce AI-generated content.

Diminished Meaning in Copycat Texts

Auryn has noted that these copycat books often contain phrases that lack coherence. For instance, a section discussing "shadow work," based on the psychological concepts of Carl Jung, was awkwardly rephrased in a copycat version as "shadow lover."

"Just by changing a couple of words, it totally loses what it's trying to say and what you're trying to do," he explained.

With decades of experience and training behind his writing, each of Auryn's books takes him at least a year to complete. This time frame makes it particularly disheartening to witness a surge of seemingly AI-generated imitations that can be produced in almost no time.

"It can really hurt people," he stated. "Most people in my genre don't make a living off their books as it is. And then to have these companies, people, AI, pumping out this information, pushing it to the top of the algorithm and burying books written by real people with real experience, it's really disheartening."

Growing Concerns Among Authors

In 2020, authors within the occult community began utilizing blogs and social media platforms to address the rising problem of fake witchy authors, highlighting numerous books with similar themes and author identities. This issue has expanded across various genres.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What sparked Mat Auryn's encounter with plagiarism in 2022?

Mat Auryn discovered a troubling trend of book theft when he found a book titled Awakening Your Witchy Intuition and Psychic Abilities by Glinda Porter that closely resembled his own work, Psychic Witch. This incident followed the success of his book and prompted Auryn to purchase Porter's book, leading him to realize it mirrored his content.

2. What was the publisher's stance regarding the plagiarism claims?

Magickal Witches LLC, the publisher of Glinda Porter's book, stated that the book "was not intentionally plagiarized." However, they did not provide any proof of Porter's existence, contributing to concerns over the legitimacy of the work.

3. How many similar books did Auryn identify after his initial encounter?

Auryn found at least three additional books that closely imitated his work, featuring similar titles with only minor text changes. This trend raises concerns about the integrity of authorship in the publishing industry.

4. What role does AI play in the emergence of these copycat books?

A firm specializing in AI detection determined that at least two of the identified books likely utilized AI technology. Auryn remarked that some books appeared to be generated through an AI program that merely adjusted words or rephrased sentences.

5. Who is Melissa Gomes, and what connection does she have to the plagiarism issue?

Melissa Gomes authored the book Psychic Witch Magick, which Auryn noted replicated elements of his Psychic Witch publication, including the table of contents. Despite positive reviews, some readers criticized the book for its lack of coherence and unoriginality.

6. What were the findings of the AI detection firm regarding specific titles?

The AI detection firm, Originality.ai, assessed several works, revealing:

• The sample from Gomes's Psychic Witch Magick had a 97 percent likelihood of being AI-generated.
• Samples from Silva's Dark Goddesses scored 95 and 99 percent.
• Mahdi Qhurbani's Psychic Witch achieved a perfect 100 percent score.

7. How do these copycat books diminish the value of original content?

Auryn expressed that many copycat books contain poorly rephrased concepts, resulting in a loss of coherence and intended meaning. For instance, the phrase "shadow work" was awkwardly changed to "shadow lover," demonstrating a lack of understanding of the original content.

8. How long does it typically take Auryn to complete one of his books?

Auryn noted that each of his books requires at least one year to complete. This dedication emphasizes the frustration felt when faced with the rapid production of AI-generated imitations that dilute the integrity of genuine literary work.

9. What concerns have been raised among authors in the spiritual and occult community?

Since 2020, authors within the occult community have increasingly shared their worries about fake witchy authors and similar themes across different genres. They utilize blogs and social media to bring attention to this issue in an effort to protect their authentic voices.

10. How do authors feel about the impact of AI-generated literature on their work?

Auryn highlighted the distressing effect that the rise of AI-generated books can have on authors who struggle financially. He stated that the influx of AI-produced content can overshadow the efforts of real authors, undermining their craft and livelihood.