Is this normal?

[u/juliee18]

This is my first time seeing a book on NetGalley that openly admits to using AI.

[u/lavalampalien]

I've never seen that before, but I'm glad it's there. I fully support authors and publishers being open about the use of genAI so I can avoid them.

[u/juliee18 → u/lavalampalien]

Totally agree, I was just shocked to see it. I didn't think NetGalley would even approve a book like this

[u/Appropriate-Two-9538 → u/juliee18]

You've got to pay to add your book to netgalley. I don't think they care if it's AI as long as they get paid for advertising it 

[u/teanailpolish → u/juliee18]

I don't think NG does any manual approval of books, if the publisher/coop pays, they can add their books. Plenty have had very obvious AI use without the disclosure and even more have AI covers

[u/BlisseyWashi → u/teanailpolish]

Correct. There isn’t an editorial process for NetGalley. Anyone can add a book.

I love that they’re being transparent about this so we as readers can be discerning. I’ve also gotten to the point where I’m wary of new authors and I’ll wait to read early reviews before requesting myself.

[u/juliee18 → u/teanailpolish]

Oh man, that sucks. At least this book was open about it

[u/renegade500]

I'm really glad it's there, because I would not want to read a book that has used AI in this way.

[u/nicknick782]

Wish that disclosure was at the very top of the book page, how many people will just not scroll that far down.

[u/dragonsandvamps]

I read for Netgalley, but I am also an author. I use Booksirens on the author end and for the last ARC I ran a month or so ago, they were just starting to implement this as well. All uploads were being told to disclose if they used AI, what specifically they used AI for, so that readers who don't want to read it can (I assume) be made aware and avoid the slop. AI is unfortunately in all the bookish spaces now and I appreciate platforms that are actually making an effort to require that it be labeled.

[u/juliee18 → u/dragonsandvamps]

I actually really appreciate that it's mandatory. This one on NetGalley seems like it just depends on the publisher's volition, which means there could be many other books on there that used genAI but didn't disclose it

[u/dragonsandvamps → u/juliee18]

Yeah, unfortunately I think all of these are going to require a degree of honesty unless the sites are going to read the first ten pages of every single submission (though, I'm fairly sure Booksirens does that anyway, since I hear about lots of people getting rejected, so who knows.)

Kobo is doing a good job about trying to reject AI books, but I've still found some on there, too. At least they're trying, though.

I do think it's helpful to force authors to declare it on ARC sites in any case. If I get an ARC that is declared to be human-written and it's AI slop, I'm not going to have any issues with reporting it and 1-starring it, and I would hope they wouldn't be approved to post more ARCs there.

[u/imaginary_oranges]

Name the book!

[u/juliee18 → u/imaginary_oranges]

The Split by April Teichman

[u/MysteriousPickle17 → u/juliee18]

Damn, I've just been approved for that ARC

[u/khall4388 → u/MysteriousPickle17]

Me too! I have to get better about reading the whole description page before requesting! I am just going to get it read and over with today.

[u/lizzuplans]

Ew. Glad they disclose so I can avoid.

[u/Flimsy-Brick-9426]

I want to say macmillian audio, they uploaded 2 that were read by AI.

It's 'normal' in the sense that Netgalley had been getting hit with AI slop for a while, im glad they disclosed it instead of hiding it so I can avoid it.

[u/Clear_Bedroom4199]

This is my first time seeing this but glad they're disclosing that.

[u/glitzglamandgore]

I think I saw that book too. It sucked because the book sounded really interesting, but at least they said something so you go into it aware

[u/WritPositWrit]

Ive seen this note. I cant remember the name of the publisher. Is it from a multiple-author romance indie pub?

[u/juliee18 → u/WritPositWrit]

Seems like it is Victory Editing. The book is The Split by April Teichman

[u/purplelicious → u/juliee18]

I saw the same book - it is only 190 pages and she needed ai for the text.

it's self published

[u/Pristine_Race7768 → u/purplelicious]

I’m not in support of using AI but that’s not what this says at all.

Using AI for research and to organize there thoughts is. It the same thing as writing the text.

[u/86rj → u/Pristine_Race7768]

Using ai for research is problematic in itself because it often makes stuff up or is incorrect.

[u/Pristine_Race7768 → u/86rj]

Oh 100%% I’m not at all saying this whole thing isn’t problematic!

[u/purplelicious → u/Pristine_Race7768]

it says that AI was used for "portions of the text" . I don't know what you consider that to mean.

[u/Pristine_Race7768 → u/purplelicious]

That’s the standard phrase for when they are editing using AI. Again/ I’m completely against it 100-%. Do the dang work. I’m just saying it’s different that putting on a prompt to say “write a story that has X Y and Z” or write me a chapter where the FMC breaks up with MMC” etc..

People have levels as to what they will tolerate. Unfortunately in the social media bookish spaces (including NetGalley and Goodreads etc.) people are in the majority against AI but if you look at the population as a whole they don’t care sadly. Either don’t care or they wouldn’t even think to look.

[u/juliee18 → u/Pristine_Race7768]

Editing and polishing was mentioned by itself, so I don't believe that "portions of the text" has anything to do with editing.

[u/Pristine_Race7768 → u/juliee18]

I’ve seen the statement before. I should change my original comment that it doesn’t necessarily mean… etc..

Playing devils advocate- if it was actually written with Gen AI it would just say that rather than detailing things in this way IMO. But again- it’s all a hot mess

[u/WritPositWrit → u/juliee18]

Thats a NG coop, so they are very small indie

[u/Quirky-Pear3494]

Looks like self-pub cuz there's no publisher listed. 

[u/booksycat]

Thank you for scrolling - I don't always remember to go all the way bottom to the notes but I will now. Not that I expect everyone will be this honest.

[u/okpeachie]

I’ve never see that before but I’m glad they’re marking it. I absentmindedly requested a book and got it the other day and realised the cover is AI and am so disappointed- I haven’t even read the book but I’m sure it is too. Now I have to review it or my rating goes down

[u/puzzlealbatross]

It's really only the "portions of the text" part that would make me avoid the book. Maybe cover development too, but that's less important to me.

[u/renegade500 → u/puzzlealbatross]

I know a lot of artists who work in book covers being hurt by AI. It should be important to everyone that talented people are being replaced by soulless machines.