Nobel Prize Winner's AI Use Sparks Literary Backlash
Olga Tokarczuk, the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature winner, revealed she uses an advanced language model in her creative process, triggering criticism from writers and literary figures who questioned whether the technology belonged in serious fiction.
Speaking at the Impact conference in PoznaΕ, Tokarczuk said she purchased "the highest, advanced version of one language model" and was "in deep shock" over how it "expands horizons and deepens creative thinking." She sometimes refers to the chatbot as "kochana" - Polish for "beloved" - and consults it on how to "beautifully develop" ideas.
For her latest novel, Tokarczuk asked the model what songs her protagonists would listen to at a dance decades ago. The model provided titles she used in the manuscript.
The admission drew sharp responses. Journalist MiΕosz Wiatrowski-Bujacz accused her of falling into "AI psychosis," while some commentators called for stripping her of the Nobel Prize.
Tokarczuk issued a clarification on Facebook, saying she uses ChatGPT only as a research tool for "faster documenting and checking of facts." She emphasized that none of her texts, including her forthcoming novel, were written by the AI itself.
"I always verify information when using AI," she wrote.
Writers Face Real Financial Pressure
Tokarczuk's situation reflects broader anxieties in the writing profession. A 2025 survey found that 39% of novelists report their finances have already suffered from generative AI, as the technology has eliminated income sources like copywriting and translation work.
More than half of published novelists said they believe AI will entirely replace their work as fiction writers. Meanwhile, their published work is being used to train models without their consent or payment.
Amazon has seen a surge in low-quality AI-generated books designed to mimic high-profile releases. The Authors Guild reports that scammers now release one or more fake books within days of a legitimate book's launch, using AI to produce content at virtually no cost instead of paying human writers.
Tokarczuk is not alone among acclaimed authors in discussing AI use. Japanese novelist Rie Kudan, who won the 2024 Akutagawa Prize, disclosed that approximately 5% of her award-winning novel was written directly by ChatGPT.
For writers navigating AI tools, the challenge is clear: distinguishing between using technology for research and outsourcing the work itself - a line that remains contested in the literary community.
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