John H. Thomas warns AI should assist writers, not replace them

Techno-thriller author John H. Thomas argues that artificial intelligence can streamline research, translation and editing, but cannot replace the human experiences that make fiction resonate. His comments come as AI-generated books surge on Amazon and publishers confront a rapidly changing market.

Why it matters: - AI-generated content is reshaping publishing at speed, with more than 60% of new eBook releases on Amazon now estimated to be AI-generated. - Thomas argues the shift raises a bigger question for authors: whether technology should help create books or start replacing the human voice behind them. - The debate matters because readers still respond to emotion, struggle and lived experience, which Thomas says software cannot duplicate.

What happened: - John H. Thomas, author of The Chronos Files and other techno-thrillers, laid out his case for using artificial intelligence as a tool rather than a replacement for authorship. - Thomas said artificial intelligence is useful, but “it shouldn’t become the author.” - Thomas pointed to publishing data showing monthly Amazon eBook releases near 300,000, about triple pre-ChatGPT levels. - Thomas also cited research showing more than half of newer Amazon e-books include some AI-generated text.

The details: - A peer-reviewed study from Cornell University and the University of Minnesota, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found AI-generated content has climbed from near-zero three years ago to more than 60% of new eBook releases on Amazon. - Thomas said a novel represents months or years of work, including revisions, difficult choices and personal investment. - Thomas sees AI as useful for nonfiction research, condensing complex material, fact-checking, grammar, readability and translation. - Thomas said AI can reduce research time for nonfiction writers and help authors reach readers in multiple languages. - Thomas argues the publishing industry should continue to value originality, imagination and emotional depth. - Thomas said, “The best books don’t simply deliver information. They reflect curiosity, struggle, imagination, and lived experience. An algorithm cannot manufacture those qualities.”

Between the lines: - Thomas is not rejecting AI; he is drawing a line between assistance and authorship. - His own fiction reflects that concern. In Echoes of the Gene, an AI tool grows so saturated with human behavioral data that it becomes difficult to distinguish from the person it is mimicking. - Thomas frames that story as a warning about publishing too: once a tool starts making core creative choices, the value of the human writer may erode. - The underlying message is that authors who understand AI may be best positioned to compete with it.

What's next: - Thomas expects authors to keep using AI for repetitive or technical work while focusing their time on characters, narrative and ideas. - He said the writers who thrive will be the ones who understand what AI can do and what only human experience can supply. - Thomas is available for interviews, and more information is available on the author's website.

The bottom line: - AI may be changing how books get made, but Thomas argues the market will still reward stories that feel unmistakably human.