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South African author Coral Hart is defending her use of artificial intelligence to publish more than 370 books since February 2025. Despite facing intense social media backlash and personal threats, Hart maintains that AI is a permanent fixture in the publishing industry that requires human direction to be effective. She currently operates under a pseudonym to protect her identity while managing a massive portfolio that has seen over one million books sold across various formats this year alone.
With 14 years of experience in the publishing industry, Hart transitioned to AI technology by learning to navigate and master different generative models. She argues that the technology serves as a sophisticated tool rather than a total replacement for human creativity, emphasizing that AI-generated content still requires oversight to ensure quality. To Hart, the technology represents an evolution of the writing craft that allows for an unprecedented scale of production and market reach.
The author’s prolific output has sparked a heated debate regarding the ethics and quality of AI-generated literature. Hart has countered criticisms regarding the merit of her work by highlighting her commercial success and high sales figures, asserting that readers ultimately decide the value of a book through their purchasing choices. Despite receiving numerous hate messages, she views the current controversy as an essential part of a necessary global conversation about the future of the creative arts.
Looking forward, Hart intends to expand her involvement in the sector by launching software designed to assist other writers in utilizing artificial intelligence. She believes that providing these tools will help aspiring authors navigate the technological shift and improve their own productivity. Her stance remains firm that AI in literature is a foundational change in how books are created, marketed, and consumed in the modern era.