The Frankfurt Book Fair kicked off on Tuesday, showcasing various genres and themes. Among the highlights is the “New Adult” category, featuring romantic novels aimed at young adults, alongside a rich selection of children’s literature, young adult titles, comics, streaming services, and educational publishing.
One of the most eagerly anticipated discussions at the fair revolves around the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the publishing industry.
During a press conference, Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, Chairwoman of the German Publishers & Booksellers Association, acknowledged the potential benefits AI brings to publishers, bookstores, and logistics. However, she emphasized that AI has not yet produced the kind of innovative, thought-provoking, or emotionally impactful works typically generated by human creativity.
Schmidt-Friderichs also raised ethical concerns regarding AI, cautioning that its capabilities stem from what she termed “the largest-scale data theft in history.” She highlighted that a vast amount of text and images, many of which are protected by copyright, have been utilized to train AI systems without the consent or compensation of the original creators.
Running for five days, this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair will feature thousands of exhibitors from approximately 100 countries. Since its inception in 1949, the fair has become the world’s largest book fair, with Italy serving as the guest of honour for this year’s event.
