AI debate lands on Kitabu Fest stage, as authors discuss the future of books

Something hits different when you sit and listen as an author reads their books.

In its third edition, Kitabu Fest hooked book lovers with authors Ciku Kimani alias Empress and acclaimed author and poet Tony Muchoma alias Smitta.

With discussions centred around literature mobility and versions of possible futures, the authors engaged the audience on matters culture, AI and technologies that will shape the future.

Also Read: Kitabu Fest: An afternoon of books, men and good conversation

Contributing from the audience, Moses said, "We will see a future where people will shape everything to their liking. You would ask why you have ads of things you are interested in keep popping up on your social media platforms?  This is all linked algorithms that track your interaction on the internet."

On book reading, just as in a listening party for musicians, book lovers had the privilege to get a piece of Smitta's manuscript, where he roped in the audience in his yet published book.

This sparked conversation on publishing and the writing process.

Aspiring writers engaged at length on what it takes to publish a book and the intricacies of putting your thoughts down and creating literature pieces.

Wowing the audience, a young man from Nakuru West, said he has been writing a book that captured his interaction with the territorial gang members from Nakuru East and Nakuru West and how this has shaped Nakuru.

On the other hand, Ciku Kimani took the audience on a journey of polygamy and why she thinks most people tend to be polygamous in society while reading to the audience, one of her books, Cocktail from the Savannah.

Interaction on the future, brought out engaging insights on culture and matters of artificial intelligence AI.

Ciku noted that AI is something you cannot fight, however, she noted over reliance on it is not good for writers.

Read: Fiction Vs Non-fiction debate takes centre stage at the second Kitabu Fest event in Nakuru

" I tend to feel content generated by AI doesn't have a soul. It does not tap into the readers’ emotions as writers do," she said.

Echoing her sentiments, Author Alex Nderitu who was present among the audience said," I wouldn't advise the author to write using AI. However, it's the best when it comes to generating graphics to use on the book."

He noted that other than traditionally designing graphics, AI comes with unlimited materials that writers can benefit from.

"AI has proved to be very useful especially in musicals and generating plays from books. This is something authors can use to get audio visual content from their books," he said

Event organiser Peter Oduor noted that although the turn out on the third edition was low the session was very interactive.

"We had around 50 people streaming in for the book reading and I must say the event is starting to attract good numbers in Nakuru. The plan is to grow the event and later incorporate other disciplines such as film, media and musicals in the future," he said.

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