SAN FRANCISCO: Until recently, Brett Schickler never imagined he could be a published author, though he had dreamed about it. But after learning about the ChatGPT artificial intelligence program, Schickler figured an opportunity had landed in his lap.
“The idea of writing a book finally seemed possible,” said Schickler, a salesman in Rochester, New York. “I thought ‘I can do this.’“
Using the AI software, which can generate blocks of text from simple prompts, Schickler created a 30-page illustrated children’s e-book in a matter of hours, offering it for sale in January through Amazon.com Inc’s self-publishing unit.
In the edition, Sammy the Squirrel, crudely rendered also using AI, learns from his forest friends about saving money after happening upon a gold coin. He crafts an acorn-shaped piggy bank, invests in an acorn trading business and hopes to one day buy an acorn grinding stone.
Sammy becomes the wealthiest squirrel in the forest, the envy of his friends and “the forest started prospering,” according to the book.
“The Wise Little Squirrel: A Tale of Saving and Investing,” available in the Amazon Kindle store for $2.99 — or $9.99 for a printed version — has netted Schickler less than $100, he said. While that may not sound like much, it is enough to inspire him to compose other books using the software.
“I could see people making a whole career out of this,” said Schickler, who used prompts on ChatGPT like “write a story about a dad teaching his son about financial literacy.”
Schickler is on the leading edge of a movement testing the promise and limitations of ChatGPT, which debuted in November and has sent shock waves through Silicon Valley and beyond for its uncanny ability to create cogent blocks of text instantly.
There were over 200 e-books in Amazon’s Kindle store as of mid-February listing ChatGPT as an author or co-author, including “How to Write and Create Content Using ChatGPT,” “The Power of Homework” and poetry collection “Echoes of the Universe.” And the number is rising daily. There is even a new sub-genre on Amazon: Books about using ChatGPT, written entirely by ChatGPT.
But due to the nature of ChatGPT and many authors’ failure to disclose they have used it, it is nearly impossible to get a full accounting of how many e-books may be written by AI.
The software’s emergence has already ruffled some of the biggest technology firms, prompting Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to hastily debut new functions in Google and Bing, respectively, that incorporate AI.
The rapid consumer adoption of ChatGPT has spurred frenzied activity in tech circles as investors pour money into AI-focused startups and given technology firms new purpose amid the gloom of massive layoffs. Microsoft, for one, received fawning coverage this month over its otherwise moribund Bing search engine after demonstrating an integration with ChatGPT.
But already there are concerns over authenticity, because ChatGPT learns how to write by scanning millions of pages of existing text. An experiment with AI by CNET resulted in multiple corrections and apparent plagiarism before the tech news site suspended its use.
THREAT TO ‘REAL’ AUTHORS?
Now ChatGPT appears ready to upend the staid book industry as would-be novelists and self-help gurus looking to make a quick buck are turning to the software to help create bot-made e-books and publish them through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing arm. Illustrated children’s books are a favorite for such first-time authors. On YouTube, TikTok and Reddit hundreds of tutorials have spring up, demonstrating how to make a book in just a few hours. Subjects include get-rich-quick schemes, dieting advice, software coding tips and recipes.
“This is something we really need to be worried about, these books will flood the market and a lot of authors are going to be out of work,” said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of writers’ group the Authors Guild. Ghostwriting — by humans — has a long tradition, she said, but the ability to automate through AI could turn book writing from a craft into a commodity.
“There needs to be transparency from the authors and the platforms about how these books are created or you’re going to end up with a lot of low-quality books,” she said.
One author, who goes by Frank White, showed in a YouTube video how in less than a day he created a 119-page novella called “Galactic Pimp: Vol. 1” about alien factions in a far-off galaxy warring over a human-staffed brothel. The book can be had for just $1 on Amazon’s Kindle e-book store. In the video, White says anyone with the wherewithal and time could create 300 such books a year, all using AI.
Many authors, like White, feel no duty to disclose in the Kindle store that their great American novel was written wholesale by a computer, in part because Amazon’s policies do not require it.
When asked for comment by Reuters, Amazon did not address whether it had plans to change or review its Kindle store policies around authors’ use of AI or other automated writing tools. “All books in the store must adhere to our content guidelines, including by complying with intellectual property rights and all other applicable laws,” Amazon spokeswoman Lindsay Hamilton said via email.
A spokeswoman for ChatGPT developer OpenAI declined to comment.
FROM CONCEPTION TO PUBLICATION IN JUST HOURS
Amazon is by far the largest seller of both physical and e-books, commanding well over half of sales in the United States and, by some estimates, over 80 percent of the e-book market. Its Kindle Direct Publishing service has spawned a cottage industry of self-published novelists, carving out particular niches for enthusiasts of erotic content and self-help books.
Amazon created Kindle Direct Publishing in 2007 to allow anyone to sell and market a book from their couch without the hassle or expense of seeking out literary agents or publishing houses. Generally, Amazon allows authors to publish instantly through the unit without any oversight, splitting whatever proceeds they generate.
That has attracted new AI-assisted authors like Kamil Banc, whose primary job is selling fragrances online, who bet his wife he could make a book from conception to publication in less than one day. Using ChatGPT, an AI image creator and prompts like “write a bedtime story about a pink dolphin that teaches children how to be honest,” Banc published an illustrated 27-page book in December. Available on Amazon, “Bedtime Stories: Short and Sweet, For a Good Night’s Sleep” took Banc about four hours to create, he said.
Consumer interest so far has been admittedly sleepy: Banc said sales have totaled about a dozen copies. But readers rated it worthy of five stars, including one who praised its “wonderful and memorable characters.”
Banc has since published two more AI-generated books, including an adult coloring book, with more in the works. “It actually is really simple,” he said. “I was surprised at how fast it went from concept to publishing.”
Not everyone is blown away by the software. Mark Dawson, who has reportedly sold millions of copies of books he wrote himself through Kindle Direct Publishing, was quick to call ChatGPT-assisted novels “dull” in an email to Reuters.
“Merit plays a part in how books are recommended to other readers. If a book gets bad reviews because the writing is dull then it’s quickly going to sink to the bottom.”
ChatGPT launches boom in AI-written e-books on Amazon
https://arab.news/6hxqa
ChatGPT launches boom in AI-written e-books on Amazon
- Bot-made e-books have sparked an intense debate about authenticity, future of writers
Lebanese social entrepreneur among Schwab Foundation awardees at WEF
- Aline Sara, co-founder of NaTakallam (Arabic for “we speak”), has been enabling refugees and other conflict-affected people to earn an income online
DUBAI: The co-founder of an online platform that hires refugees and displaced persons as online tutors, teachers and translators was among 18 recipients of the 2025 Schwab Foundation Award announced on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
Aline Sara, co-founder of NaTakallam (Arabic for “we speak”), has been enabling refugees and other conflict-affected people to earn an income online and connect them with people around the world through language.
In this context, the social enterprise “disrupts the conventional approach to humanitarian aid” and uses the gig economy to promote sustainable solutions to major crises, according to the Schwab Foundation’s official statement.
Although the idea was inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis, Sara, a Lebanese citizen, has expanded the platform to serve displaced people around the world, reaching as far as Venezuela, Burundi and Yemen.
Launched with an initial offer of online Arabic conversation classes, NaTakallam proposes services ranging from translation, interpretation and transcription to an Arabic curriculum in partnership with Cornell University in the US. Other languages include Persian and Spanish to address the pressing needs of Venezuelan refugees.
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation, awarded 18 social entrepreuners from 15 organizations whose groundbreaking solutions address urgent issues and drive positive change around the world.
“This year’s awardees are addressing health disparities from the United States to Zambia, creating income opportunities for displaced individuals, combatting deforestation in Central and West Africa, and improving the lives of vulnerable communities in India and beyond,” the foundation said in a statement.
The entrepreneurs were rewarded based on their business, social development and environmental models that are helping to build a more equitable and sustainable world.
According to the WEF, social entrepreneurship and innovation are gaining momentum worldwide, with more than 10 million social enterprises creating 200 million jobs and generating $2 trillion annually.
Despite their significant economic contribution and commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, social enterprises face a $1.1 trillion funding need.
At the Annual Meeting 2025, the Schwab Foundation aims to spotlight social entrepreneurs and innovators who are already leading the way with successful and innovative business models and, ultimately, help advance these solutions at scale to reach more of the world’s people.
Francois Bonnici, director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, said: “Our world is grappling with instability, polarization and disenfranchisement while facing extreme, unpredictable weather events and disasters. It is also undergoing a radical transformation with both the green and digital transitions.
“Although this comes with economic opportunity, it also risks exacerbating existing inequalities or creating new ones,” he said. “In the face of these significant challenges, the need for bold and innovative solutions has never been more pressing. The work of social entrepreneurs and innovators is not just important, it is essential.”
Aramco retains MENA’s most valuable brand amid ‘outpacing’ regional growth
- The Saudi oil and gas giant was valued at $41.7bn, ranking 38th globally, while stc was ranked the strongest brand in the Middle East
- Among the rest of the region, e& boasts the fastest-growing brand value globally this year, with an eight-fold increase to $15.3bn
LONDON: Aramco has maintained its position as the Middle East and North Africa’s most valuable brand in the Global 500 2025 report by marketing consultation firm Brand Finance, leading the region amid a period of “outpacing” growth for MENA brands.
The Saudi oil and gas giant was valued at $41.7 billion, ranking 38th globally. However, its growth lagged behind regional counterparts, attributed to falling oil prices driven by a surplus that has persisted since the post-COVID-19 spike and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Middle Eastern brands continue to make their mark on the global stage, with a combined $127.4 billion brand value contribution to the Brand Finance Global 500 2025 ranking,” said David Haigh, chairman and CEO of Brand Finance.
Haigh highlighted Saudia Arabia’s particularly strong performance, saying the Kingdom accounts for $75.5 billion of the region’s total, with five Saudi brands securing places in the top 500.
Every year, Brand Finance evaluates 5,000 major brands, publishing over 100 reports across diverse sectors and countries. The rankings highlight the top 500 most valuable, and strongest, brands in several categories. Various criteria are used to determine brands rated as the strongest, in a type of credit rating, which is then used to determine the most valuable overall.
One of the other Saudi brands in the list, telecom giant stc, was named the ninth most valuable telecoms brand globally and the strongest brand in the Middle East, with a Brand Strength Index score of 88.7/100 and an AAA rating — marking a slight improvement compared to last year and placing it 66th in the global BSI rankings
Stc’s brand value rose by 16 percent, reaching $16.1 billion in 2025, up from $13.9 billion in 2024. This increase secures its position as the third most valuable brand in the region and the leading telecom brand in the Middle East.
The results of this year’s index are “a reflection of our leadership position and relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence,” commented Vice President of Corporate Relations at stc Group Mohammed R. Abaalkheil, who added that the “recognition pushes the group to think ahead to stay ahead.”
Brand Finance attributed stc’s performance to its successful implementation of the Masterbrand strategy, which has expanded the brand into new sectors such as banking, cybersecurity, and B2B IT services. Strategic M&A initiatives have further bolstered its leadership position regionally and internationally.
Abaalkheil added: “As we continue our journey in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, we are committed to driving digital transformation and sustainable growth that impacts not just the region, but the world at large.”
Other Saudi brands in the index, including Al-Rajhi Bank, SNB, and SABIC, also made significant strides. These companies climbed 45, 20, and five spots, respectively, in the global rankings, collectively increasing their brand value by nearly $2 billion.
Outside Saudi Arabia, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. secured the 105th spot globally, making it the second most valuable MENA brand. ADNOC’s valuation surged 25 percent to $19 billion, the fastest among energy brands, driven by its decarbonization commitments unveiled during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.
E& (formerly Etisalat) emerged as the world’s fastest-growing brand, with its value soaring eightfold to $15.3 billion, reflecting the success of its three-year rebranding strategy. In comparison, Nvidia has the highest like-for-like growth — 98 percent — making it the second fastest-growing brand value for 2025 thanks to a continued market demand for artificial intelligence chips.
“This year, Middle Eastern brands in the Global 500 ranking achieved a growth rate of 23 percent, more than double that of non-Middle Eastern brands at 11 percent,” said Andrew Campbell, managing director, Brand Finance Middle East. “This underscores the significant progress made by Middle Eastern brands as the region continues to invest in both tangible and intangible assets, committed to diversification beyond the oil and gas sector in the pursuit of global brand recognition.”
Globally, Apple retained its title as the most valuable brand, with its value rising 11 percent to $574.5 billion, despite below-average earnings in the tech sector due to weak Chinese market sales.
TikTok continued its rise, ranking seventh globally, even amid the recent US controversy and temporary bans. Incoming US President Donald Trump delayed the ban for 75 days, allowing TikTok to remain operational in the interim.
In contrast, German automaker Mercedes-Benz was the only brand among the top 25 to lose value, declining by 11 percent due to the sluggish European car market.
TikTok gets reprieve with Trump order but with twist
- Trump suggested that the US should be a half owner of TikTok’s US business in return for keeping the app alive
- Short video service used by 170 million Americans was briefly taken offline for US users on Saturday
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday delaying by 75 days the enforcement of a ban of popular short-video app TikTok that was slated to be shuttered on Jan. 19.
But Trump suggested that the US should be a half owner of TikTok’s US business in return for keeping the app alive.
The short video service used by 170 million Americans was briefly taken offline for US users on Saturday, hours before a law that said it must be sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance on national security grounds took effect on Sunday. US officials had said that under ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans’ data being misused.
TikTok restored access on Sunday and thanked Trump for providing assurances to TikTok and its business partners that they would not face hefty fines to keep the app running. The app and website were operational on Monday, but TikTok was still not available for download in the Apple and Google app stores.
Trump’s order, signed hours after he was inaugurated on Monday, directs the attorney general to not enforce the law “to permit my administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok.”
The executive order capped 48 hours of legal maneuvering and political intrigue that left millions of TikTokkers saddened and then elated over the rapidly changing fate of their app.
The debate over TikTok also comes at a tense moment in US-China relations. Trump has said he intends to place tariffs on China but has also indicated he hopes to have more direct contact with China’s leader.
While signing the executive order Monday evening, Trump said that he “could see” the US government taking a 50 percent stake in TikTok and as part of that stake, the US could police the site.
Trump added that if a deal isn’t approved by China, “there’s no value. So if we create that value, why aren’t we entitled to like half?” He said the company could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Trump did not formally invoke the 90-day delay allowed under the statute, which can only be issued if ByteDance had binding agreements to divest the app within 90 days. He suggested a joint venture as a possibility instead.
It would be unprecedented for the US government to demand an equity stake in a major company in exchange for approving its continued use.
Trump’s comments did not address whether ByteDance or other Chinese entities would be allowed to hold a stake in TikTok or if the deal would address US national security concerns about US user data.
The order directs the Justice Department to issue letters to companies like Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Oracle that supply services to TikTok “stating that there has been no violation of the statute and that there is no liability for any conduct that occurred during the above-specified period.” It is still unclear if Trump’s order will be enough for the companies to restore the app to stores in the United States.
“Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump said at a rally on Sunday ahead of his inauguration.
That announcement came as China indicated for the first time it would be open to a transaction keeping TikTok operating in the US
When asked about the app’s restoration and Trump’s desire for a deal, China’s foreign ministry told a regular news briefing on Monday that it believed companies should “decide independently” about their operations and deals.
Missing US journalist’s mother says new Syria leaders ‘determined’ to find son
DAMASCUS: The mother of US journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria in 2012, said on Monday in Damascus that the war-torn country's new leadership was committed to finding him.
Tice was working as a freelance journalist for Agence France-Presse, McClatchy News, The Washington Post, CBS and other media outlets when he was detained at a checkpoint in August 2012.
“I have been privileged to meet with the new leadership of Syria,” Debra Tice told journalists in Damascus, after holding talks with Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“It was so wonderful to learn that they are dedicated and determined to bring home my son, and your son,” she added.
She expressed hope the incoming administration of Donald Trump, who takes office as US president later on Monday, will work to bring her son home.
“Today... Trump will be sworn into office and a page will be turned,” she said.
“I have great hope that the Trump administration will be very engaged in diligent work to bring Austin home.
“I look forward to working closely with the team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Presidential Envoy Adam Logan.”
Debra Tice said she was “looking forward” to engaging with the Trump administration.
“His people have already reached out to me,” she said.
“I haven’t experienced that for the last four years, and so I’m very much looking forward to their help and involvement, and I think they’re going to be quick at it.”
Last month, US officials said Syria’s new leadership had assisted in the hunt for Tice, including searches at sites of interest.
“We feel it’s our duty as the US government to press on until we know with certainty what happened to him, where he is and to bring him home,” said Roger Carstens, the US point man on hostages.
He made the remarks during the first visit to Damascus by US officials since Islamist-led forces toppled autocratic Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
TikTok says it’s in the process of restoring service to US users
- TikTok thanks Donald Trump, who says he plans to give TikTok’s China-based parent company more time to find an approved buyer
- Popular video-sharing platform went dark in US in response to new law
NEW YORK: TikTok says it’s “in the process” of restoring service to users in the United States after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a new law.
The company that runs TikTok said in a post on X on Sunday that tech companies that faced fines if they didn’t remove TikTok’s app from the digital stores and other service providers had agreed to help.
TikTok thanked President-elect Donald Trump, who on Sunday said he planned to sign an executive order after his inauguration on Monday to give TikTok’s China-based parent company more time to find an approved buyer before the popular video-sharing platform is subject to a permanent USban.
It was not immediately clear whether TikTok was working as it did before the company instituted a blackout late Saturday. Some users reported that the app was working, and TikTok’s website appeared to be functioning for at least some users. However, the app remained unavailable for download on Apple’s app store.
Google and Apple removed the app from their digital stores to comply with a federal law that required them to do so if TikTok parent company ByteDance didn’t sell its US operation by Sunday. The law, which passed with wide bipartisan support in April, allowed for steep fines for non-compliance.
TikTok said Trump’s promise of an executive order had provided “the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
