The CatGPT project by Eukalypto Fair Publishers is an AI-assisted novel writing experiment, initiating a debate on the process itself
WHAT IS THE CAT GPT PROJECT?
A few months ago, a certain author told us he was writing his next novel with the assistance of AI tools. We were astonished by the speed at which he integrated and applied these tools, knowing they were being disparaged and denounced by an overwhelming majority of publishers and authors. When we discussed this topic in a team meeting, it elicited a variety of reactions and raised a number of questions. Eventually, we decided to design an interactive experiment with our readers: we would write a series of novels, with the help of AI. Our first novel is currently being written with the assistance of ChatGPT, and we enthusiastically welcome your participation.
WHY THIS STORY?
The roof cats’ story had been prowling around the head of one of us for some time, and had already been discussed. The story existed, and was looking for an author, or rather a co-author.
This book project had specific guidelines: it had been conceived as a sort of nature documentary, where humans and cats are on equal terms. So it had to be told in a neutral and descriptive way. Since even we can’t guess the inner thoughts of cats, we decided to override humans’ inner thoughts and intentions by telling an audio-visual tale that lets each reader figure out the motivations behind each mammal’s actions and interactions. But something was missing.
The missing element was: a disinterested perspective, i.e., the ability to tell the story in the most objective way. AI tools provided a solution that allowed us to embark on our new interactive project.
WHY WAS CHAT GPT CHOSEN TO START THE FIRST EXPERIMENT?
3 Major Reasons:
1- ChatGPT is free, easy and user friendly.
2- We tried it and loved it.
3- The pun was fun.
WHO WE ARE
We are, Youssef, Eukalypto’s founder / author / editor / father Hhala, author / translator / editor / mother Sam, author / collaborator/ OSUN-CEU Fellow in Experimental Humanities
All lovers of words and cats, and humans (sometimes).