If you’re a reader, you know how frustrating it can be when a film adaptation of your favourite book does not live up to your imagination. However, film studios usually put a lot of effort into ensuring a movie stays true to its literary roots.
Now imagine someone simply feeds the book to AI and calls it a day. That’s exactly what Urdu novelist Umera Ahmed’s team is worried about.
In an Instagram post on the writer’s official page, the team thanked readers for the “tremendous love and support” they had shown Ahmed’s novels over the years. They also said they had noticed “a lot of AI-generated images, videos and reels trying to depict scenes, characters and dialogues from the novels”.
“We kindly ask all content creators and pages not to generate or share any AI visuals of Umera Ahmed’s work,” the post said.
Team highlights concerns over AI
The team said literature creates a deeply personal experience for readers. However, AI content takes away that “personal connection”. They also said some of Ahmed’s works, such as Peer-e-Kamil, are so “deep, sensitive and spiritual” that AI should not dilute their “beauty and sanctity”.
The team added that they valued the creativity and effort behind the many fan pages dedicated to the writer’s books. Nevertheless, they warned that “it would be a great shame if people started diluting the beautiful words of Umera Ahmed”.
They also asked content creators and fan pages to let the magic of Ahmed’s words touch readers “the way it is meant to”.
AI debate grows in Pakistan
AI has become a major talking point in Pakistan after several incidents highlighted its negative impact on the entertainment industry.
On Monday, Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal shared a music video produced by his ministry with extensive use of AI. Critics heavily criticised the video for trying, and frankly failing, to replace human artists.
Last month, TV personalities Tauseeq Haider and Farah Saadia were shocked after AI-generated pictures of their supposed wedding went viral. They later clarified in a video that they were, in fact, “happily single”.
Actor Hira Tareen also cautioned actors about contracts that could require them to sign away their likeness for AI-generated content. She advised her colleagues to read the fine print carefully before signing any agreement.
