“AI and us”

Is the future of publishing electric, or collective?

This was the central question found at the heart of the exciting launch event for new publishing endeavour, the Breakthrough Books collective. Held at the Margate Bookie literary festival, this new creative launched onto the literary scene with two short story anthologies, a novel, and four further titles already in the pipeline. 

Featuring four members of the 20-strong collective, authors Stevyn Colgan, Ivy Ngeow, Philip Whitely, and A.K. Kyazze captivated the audience with their emphasis on the collective spirit at the heart of Breakthrough Books, alongside an engaging discussion with the audience about the existential questions asked of the publishing industry by the rise of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models.

Throughout the event, attendees eagerly participated, highlighting their curiosity about the collective’s collaborative approach and expressing their enthusiasm for a literary community that values human insight and creativity in equal measure. The event concluded on a note of optimism, affirming the timeless significance of human perspective in literature – and the unique qualities of human imagination and thought that can never be replicated by either AI or giant corporate media behemoth.

A core point was raised on the importance of preserving human connection and creativity in the face of technological progression. As all four members of the collective urged the audience to remember that – no matter the power of the technology, there is nothing that can replace true human imagination.

“You can take Shakespeare and feed it into all the machines you want; no computer will ever be able to create – from its own heart – the power we feel, as human beings, from the words of Lear in his madness, or Romeo in his love,” Ngneow said to applause from the audience.

Of course, in an era in which major publishing companies have grown so risk averse they essentially operate in a robotic manner based on algorithms and market analysis, there remains a question as to whether authors truly can be original – and if they do produce work that is unique and independent, whether any corporate entity will be brave enough to publish it.

Books on display

Alongside the engaging conversation led by the members of the collective, the event was also an opportunity for attendees to get their hands on some of the latest books published by Breakthrough Books and those who are a part of the project.

Colgan, Ngeow, Whitely, and Kyazze all read excerpts from the stories they have published in the two anthologies already published by Breakthrough Books – Taking Liberties and Order and Chaos.

Attendees were also able to purchase copies of recent books published by Breakthrough authors. These were The American Boyfriend – the bestselling novel from Ivy Ngeow; Into the Mouth of the Lion and Ahead of the Shadows by A.B. Kyazze, and Philosophers’ Dogs – the illustrated, satirical book from Breakthrough Books’ author Samuel Dodson.