By Emma Loffhagen
Publication Date: 2025-11-20 09:44:00
More than half of published novelists in the UK believe artificial intelligence could eventually replace their work entirely, according to a new report from the University of Cambridge.
The study, conducted for the university’s Minderoo Center for Technology and Democracy, suggests widespread concern about the speed and extent of AI’s penetration into the literary world.
The study surveyed 258 published novelists and 74 industry representatives, including editors and agents. Just over half (51%) of novelists said AI will likely eventually replace their work entirely. Many participants said their work had already been used to train large language models without their permission, and more than a third (39%) said their income had been reduced by generative AI. A large majority also expect their income to decline further.
“Novelists are widely concerned that generative AI trained on vast amounts of fiction will undermine the value of writing and compete with…
