John H. Thomas says AI should assist writers, not replace them

Techno-thriller author John H. Thomas is warning that artificial intelligence is changing publishing fast, but he says human storytelling is becoming more valuable as AI-generated books flood Amazon. Thomas argues writers should use AI for research, editing and translation while protecting originality, emotion and lived experience.

Why it matters: - AI-generated books are reshaping the publishing market at scale. - A peer-reviewed study from Cornell University and the University of Minnesota, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found AI-generated content now makes up more than 60% of new eBook releases on Amazon. - Monthly Amazon title releases have tripled to nearly 300,000, up from near-zero three years ago. - Thomas says that shift makes authentic human storytelling more valuable, not less.

What happened: - Techno-thriller author John H. Thomas argued that artificial intelligence is useful, but should not become the author. - Thomas said readers connect with human experiences, emotions and perspectives that technology cannot duplicate. - Thomas made the case while discussing the rise of AI-generated content in publishing. - Thomas is the author of The Chronos Files, a two-book series that includes The Terminal Gene and Echoes of the Gene.

The details: - In 2025, more than 4 million books were published in the U.S. alone. - Research indicates that more than half of newer Amazon eBooks include some AI-generated text. - AI-detected content now appears in over 60% of new titles on Amazon, according to the NBER-linked research. - Thomas said a novel can represent months or years of an author’s life. - Thomas said every chapter reflects revisions, difficult decisions and personal investment. - Thomas sees AI as useful for streamlining nonfiction research. - Thomas also points to AI uses in condensing complex material, fact-checking, improving grammar and readability, and translating books into multiple languages. - Thomas said AI is most valuable as an assistant, not as the author. - Thomas said the best books reflect curiosity, struggle, imagination and lived experience. - Thomas said an algorithm cannot manufacture those qualities.

Between the lines: - Thomas is not rejecting AI outright. - Thomas is drawing a line between using AI as a tool and letting AI define the creative work. - His novel Echoes of the Gene explores that boundary through an AI antagonist that begins to move beyond its original purpose. - Thomas said publishing is closer to the point where a tool stops being a tool than many people want to admit. - His broader argument is that writers who understand AI will be better positioned to compete with it.

What's next: - Thomas expects authors to use technology for repetitive and technical tasks so they can focus more on characters, narrative and original ideas. - Thomas said the writers who thrive will be those who understand what AI can do and refuse to let it make creative decisions for them. - Thomas is available for interviews. - More information is available here.

The bottom line: - Thomas’s case is simple: AI can speed up writing, but human experience still carries the story.