Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Storytelling
- George Mahood
- Jan 23
- 5 min read
Imagine listening to a podcast with two hosts discussing the latest New York Times bestselling novel. Only, the hosts aren’t real – they are both AI-generated.
And the book they are discussing? It’s an AI creation too.
This might sound like a plot from a sci-fi movie, but it’s rapidly becoming our reality.
I predict that an AI-written novel will top the New York Times bestseller list within the next 12 months. As for AI podcast hosts? We’re already there. Here’s a clip of two such hosts discussing my book, Operation Ironman. The podcast was created entirely by AI (using NotebookLM). All I had to do was upload my book – no prompts, no script – and AI did the rest in just a couple of minutes.

The pace of this AI revolution is staggering. I’m not going to weigh in with my views on AI and its broader implications for the future of humanity (because, in all honesty, I’m still not sure what my views are), but I do have some predictions on how it could shape the future of books and the future of publishing.
I wrote a little bit about it in my Lessons Learned from Ten Years as a Full-Time Author post last month, but wanted to share more (some good, some bad) with you here.
The Continued Rise of Self-Publishing
Self-publishing has already transformed the literary world, and AI is about to amplify its impact and inject it with steroids. Despite the ease of self-publishing, there have often been barriers and costs involved that have made it more challenging - cover design, editing, formatting, blurbs, marketing. AI can now streamline all of these processes, making it easier and cheaper than ever before.
Traditional publishing houses will struggle to compete with this new wave of talented authors who can harness AI to help turn their stories into quality books. Some publishers will successfully use AI to their advantage, and others will go under.
Customised Books
AI will enable readers to create on-demand bespoke books on any topic they choose or in the style of a particular author. Want a new Harry Potter novel? No problem. Or a new book in the style of George Mahood? Consider it done! Readers will soon have unlimited access to personalised storytelling, crafted precisely to their specifications.
Maybe you like the idea of a steamy cowboy romance book set in IKEA. Or a sci-fi cyberpunk adventure where the hero is a three-legged pig. Whatever your preferences, AI will craft it.
You will likely even have the option to interact with the characters, ask them questions and have the book shaped to your desires as you read it. A bit like those ‘choose your own adventure’ books from the '80s. They were clearly ahead of their time.
The Audiobook Revolution
The audiobook industry will see a huge shake up too. Audiobooks will soon be predominantly AI-narrated. Celebrities will license their voices to platforms, and customers will be able to choose to have books read by whoever they like. I can’t wait to hear Morgan Freeman’s rendition of Not Tonight, Josephine.
There will also be the option of multi-character audiobooks that use different voices for different characters (all AI, of course), creating a more immersive theatrical experience.
A Global Audience
Language will no longer be a barrier. AI will make translating books into any language as simple as clicking a button. This opens up new markets for authors, and new books for readers.
The Good Old Days of Paperbacks
The charm of physical books will continue to grow. As technology advances, more people will choose to step away from their digital screens, craving the tactile feel of a real-life book. They offer an escape from the sensory overload of technology.
Job Losses
As with all industries, there will be widespread job losses in publishing. AI-written books will soon become commonplace, and real-life authors will struggle to compete with the volume of new books on offer. Editors, cover designers, marketers, copywriters, formatters, illustrators, translators and narrators will likely find their roles increasingly automated.
But AI may also create jobs we’ve yet to imagine, such as AI consultants, interactive book designers, or hybrid human-AI publishers.
Will it be ‘Real’?
Doubters think that AI lacks the innate creativity of the human mind and won’t come up with the stories or subtleties that only a real author can. I disagree. From what I have seen of AI’s storytelling so far, I think it will quickly become more creative than humans.
Ok, but surely it will not ‘feel’ human, and will be noticeably fake?
Again, I disagree. It will soon be indistinguishable. There’s no such thing as a style of AI writing. It’s all to do with the prompting. If you want it to feel like it’s written by a 12-year-old, it will do that. If you want it to include a few typos and grammatical inconsistencies to make it seem more ‘real’, it will do that too. Readers won’t be able to tell the difference.

Does it Matter?
At the end of the day, does it matter? To the reader, probably not. Readers are going to have more books (unlimited, in fact) and they will have them quicker and cheaper than ever before.
It only matters to us authors and others in the publishing industry, many of whom will see our careers replaced by machines. But that’s no different to most other occupations, so we don’t deserve any extra sympathy.
Authors will have to connect with readers in other ways, as human connection remains something AI cannot replicate. In-person events will become more popular. Personal newsletters like this one (don’t forget to subscribe!) will become increasingly valuable. Live interactions will also play a bigger role, along with more behind-the-scenes content – like this video of me attempting to play the guitar, this tour of my office, and this world exclusive of my movie debut. Because there is no way AI will be able to compete with this level of cringe.
There will always be a place for original, human-created work. It’s the same with art. Prints and imitations will have a place but there will still be a demand for authentic originals.
Real-life memoirs and human-centred storytelling may see a surge in popularity (hooray!🤞). Readers will hopefully always want stories told about genuine human experiences - something AI cannot replicate convincingly.
Embracing the Future
The publishing world will look vastly different in the coming years. But personally, I’m optimistic for the future. And quite excited about all the possibilities.
Authors will need to innovate, but isn’t that what creativity is all about? I’m definitely up for the challenge. AI will allow me to reach readers in ways I haven’t before. Translating my books into multiple languages (something that’s never been a realistic possibility for me, because of the costs involved) and then creating AI-narrated audiobooks in these languages, opens my work up to a global audience.
In the end, the love of the written word and the power of storytelling aren’t going anywhere. And whether it’s created by humans or machines, the stories that resonate, connect, and inspire will hopefully always find their audience
What do you think? Have I missed anything? Disagree with any of my predictions? Let me know – I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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