If you think generative AI is being used mostly to churn out fantasy epics and science fiction adventures, think again. New data from AI ebook platform Automateed suggests the biggest boom in AI-generated publishing is happening somewhere far less exciting: self-help.
According to the company’s analysis of more than 77,000 books created through its platform, self-help and personal development is the most popular category, accounting for 10.8 percent of AI-generated titles. Health and fitness follows at 9.6 percent, while business and entrepreneurship comes in third at 7.2 percent. Fiction, meanwhile, represents just over 5 percent of categorized books.
The findings come from more than 63,000 ebook titles that Automateed categorized using AI. While the data reflects activity on a single platform rather than the publishing industry as a whole, it offers an interesting glimpse into how people are actually using AI to create books.
One statistic stood out to me. About 90 percent of the books created on the platform are standard ebooks. Novels account for just 5.4 percent of output, with illustrated storybooks and coloring books making up the rest.
The geographic breakdown is also interesting. The United States generated the largest share of books at 17.4 percent, followed by India, Brazil, Nigeria, and Indonesia. According to Automateed, those emerging markets appear to be embracing AI publishing tools at a particularly fast pace, potentially lowering barriers for aspiring authors who might not otherwise have the resources to publish.
Automateed also found some surprising regional trends. Indonesia produced an outsized number of education and academic titles, Brazil leaned heavily toward cooking and recipe books, and the United Kingdom generated more than one-third of the cybersecurity and IT ebooks created on the platform.
The company says many people assume AI writing tools are mostly used for fiction, but its data paints a different picture. Instead, users are producing practical guides covering topics such as health, money, religion, psychology, and personal growth.
Of course, none of this means every AI-generated self-help book is worth reading. If you’ve browsed Amazon lately, you’ve probably noticed there is no shortage of suspiciously generic titles promising to transform your life, fix your finances, or unlock some secret to happiness.
Look, folks, AI has made publishing easier than ever. But sadly, it has also made it easier than ever to flood online bookstores with content that looks polished at first glance but says very little once you start reading.
Support independent tech journalism
NERDS.xyz is independently owned and operated. If you enjoy my coverage of Linux, AI, hardware, cybersecurity, and tech culture, consider supporting the site on Ko-fi.
Support NERDS.xyz