Opinion | I gave ‘Shy Girl’ a five-star review before I found out it was AI-generated - Poynter
A book critic gave a rave review to "Shy Girl" before learning it was largely AI-generated, sparking debate about AI's role in publishing and the critic's responsibility.
- Incident date
- Jan 2025
- Target
- Mia Ballard
In early 2025, a book critic lauded the horror novel "Shy Girl" by Mia Ballard, only to discover later that it was reportedly 78% AI-generated. The incident raised questions about the critic's role and the increasing presence of AI in the publishing industry.
What happened
The critic initially praised "Shy Girl", even engaging in a DM conversation with Ballard after the author reposted the review. The critic then commissioned a full-page review and email interview for Rue Morgue magazine. Shortly after publication, The New York Times reported the book was being pulled from publication due to its AI content. The critic felt deceived, especially since they actively opposed AI. The incident highlighted how AI-generated books could slip past industry professionals, including reviewers and publishers like Hachette. Ballard has denied using AI, claiming an editor acquaintance must have run her book through a large language model.