JEDDAH: Artificial intelligence cannot replace the creativity of human beings in literature, according to an expert attending the Jeddah Book Fair 2024.

Dr. Anas Al-Ghamdi, an academic, researcher and author specializing in AI, made the statement in a discussion during a symposium titled: “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Book.”

The session was moderated by Mohammed Basalama, an entrepreneur in the cultural sector, who opened the symposium by raising a few questions about the impact of artificial intelligence in the book sector, asking: Will AI be a partner that enhances creativity or a competitor that threatens the human values of literary texts?

He mentioned the main themes of the symposium, which included: the role of AI in improving writing and publishing, its impact on literary creativity and the human value of books, as well as the ethical and legal challenges related to the ownership of produced texts, in addition to using AI as a tool to enhance innovation rather than compete with it.

Al-Ghamdi replied by saying that no doubt AI has become an integral part of life and it can provide a huge amount of information to people in no time, but it cannot create special feelings and the free flow of imagination as human authors do in their writings.

“If we do not use it, others will. Of course, certain fields will benefit by using AI, but it cannot create great literature,” he said.

Al-Ghamdi said that there is a role for AI in enhancing the work of publishing houses by improving marketing, production, and sales. 

But, he said, machine translation still suffers from emotional gaps, saying: “When you read a text translated by a machine, you feel the translator’s feelings, not the writer’s.”

The symposium explored how modern technology can reshape the writing and publishing experience, emphasizing the need to use AI as a tool to support human creativity.  

It also discussed the ethical and professional challenges related to the ownership of texts produced by AI, while presenting innovative visions for employing this technology to achieve a sustainable future that combines human creativity and technological innovation.

Al-Ghamdi affirmed that AI is not a substitute for human creativity, but a tool that can enrich this creativity if used properly.

DUABI: Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Donald Marles underlined the importance of Saudi Arabia as a key partner for Australia, highlighting its position as the country’s second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.

In a statement issued by his office on Thursday, Marles said his visit to Saudi Arabia is focused on enhancing cooperation within the G20 framework and other multilateral institutions, as well as reaffirming Australia’s commitment to a rules-based global order.

Marles described Saudi Arabia as a pivotal partner in addressing shared global challenges, emphasizing the significance of deepening economic and diplomatic ties. He added that the visit offers an opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration and strengthen the relationship between the two countries.