Some readers of this text, certainly the older ones, remember the technological changes of recent decades that we were all sure would shake our world and the industry in which we operate. In the 70s, the literary community was in turmoil with the advent of word processors and computer order, replacing personal typewriters and lead order.
Here came computers and replaced the pen and the sheet of lines, and we asked what would happen to the world of literature. Ten years later, digital media took digital media by storm, along with reading platforms that provided a new reading experience. The prevailing opinion was that this time we are closer than ever to the end of the era of the printed book and perhaps also to a crossroads that will change the way a story is told. There was talk of books with changing plots with alternative endings, interactive reading that would involve the reader in spinning the plot.
Although digital media in various countries accounted for up to 20% of sales, since then the power of the printed book is still at its waist, and in 2022 its share in the US even increased to 80% of the total volume of book sales, and the rest is shared by the digital book and audiobook. As far as is known, in Israel the printed book accounts for about 95% of all book sales.
And here, at the door of the new threat, AI, artificial intelligence. This time, we're told, it's the real deal. The Great Disruptor. Sophisticated algorithms capable of processing massive amounts of data, generating narratives and entire books.
Literature, at its core, is a human endeavor deeply rooted in human emotions, experience, and being. Can AI really give literary expression to the depth and authenticity of human creativity? Human intelligence and my experience tell me that with proper legislation and responsible setting of borders, we will know how to live in peace even with this technological development. It is seen as a tool and not a substitute for flesh-and-blood writers. In order for this to happen, all those involved in creating all kinds of literary content need to be vigilant today more than ever and make sure that their copyrights are not stolen by sophisticated means such as AI. Therefore, all those involved in the industry must join together, involve government institutions, enact laws and establish strong legal frameworks for creators.
But literature itself also needs to be nurtured. A recent global study revealed that the reading skills of Israeli children have declined, placing Israel in 57th place in the world. This should serve as a wake-up call and urge us to prioritize literacy among children and adolescents. High reading skills are a foundation that gives rise to thinking, creative, broad-minded and imaginative cultural figures. Reading is a wonderful basis for the development of intelligence, critical thinking, ingenuity and empathy.
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture should direct significant budgets and invest in literacy programs, support libraries, and foster culture and book-reading habits. Israeli society will reap the fruits of this investment in whatever field the reading child chooses to touch when he grows up.
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