68 Cultural Figures Express Concerns Over AI’s Ethical and Creative Implications in Open Letter

A group of 68 prominent writers, educators, publishers, and cultural professionals in Singapore have penned an open letter urging the National Library Board (NLB) to reconsider its endorsement of generative AI technologies. Released on January 7, the letter warns that without a thorough evaluation, the introduction of such technologies could profoundly reshape the country’s literary landscape.

The signatories include influential individuals like Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma and Singapore Literature Prize winners Prasanthi Ram and Marylyn Tan. They raised significant concerns about NLB’s uncritical promotion of generative AI, particularly its involvement in projects like StoryGen, a generative AI prototype created in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This initiative, launched in early 2024, has sparked dismay among the writers, who fear that the NLB might be positioning AI as a replacement for traditional writing development.

The writers also questioned the ethical dimensions of generative AI, especially regarding its impact on intellectual property rights. Their letter highlights that by endorsing such technologies, the NLB could inadvertently normalise “intellectual theft” and erode the rights of authors. They further criticised an NLB event aimed at children, “Children Write: Publish A Book With Gen-AI,” which they argue may foster the harmful belief that AI can substitute for essential writing skills.

Environmental concerns were another point of contention. The group pointed out the significant energy consumption of generative AI tools, noting that the resources required to generate even a single email through platforms like ChatGPT are at odds with NLB’s stated sustainability goals.

The letter advocates for a broader public conversation about the ethical use of AI, urging greater awareness of the technology’s limitations and potential risks. While the writers acknowledged that AI could have applications in the creative arts, they emphasised the NLB’s responsibility, as a national institution, to guide the public in using AI in an informed and ethical manner.

The open letter was directed at prominent NLB figures, including Chairman Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Ng Cher Pong, and Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo. The group also requested a formal consultation with the literary community to discuss the matter in more depth.

Author Ng Yi-Sheng, one of the organisers of the statement, noted that NLB’s Chief Librarian Gene Tan had already read the letter and initiated a dialogue with the group. However, Ng expressed disappointment with NLB’s response so far, particularly the inadequacy of its StoryGen website, which was intended to educate users on AI ethics.

The issue of AI’s use of copyrighted content has become even more contentious. Recent reports revealed that large language models, such as ChatGPT, have been trained on materials without the proper consent of copyright holders. Among those affected were renowned Singaporean authors, including Balli Kaur Jaswal, Ovidia Yu, and Rachel Heng, as well as the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Their works were reportedly included in AI databases used to train generative AI systems without authorisation.

The Straits Times has sought an official response from the NLB regarding the writers’ concerns.