A group of 68 prominent writers, publishers, educators, and cultural workers in Singapore has released a statement calling on the National Library Boa
A group of 68 prominent writers, publishers, educators, and cultural workers in Singapore has released a statement calling on the National Library Board (NLB) to reconsider its endorsement of generative AI technologies. The letter, issued on January 7, warns that the adoption of these technologies without careful consideration could permanently alter Singapore’s literary scene.
The signatories, which include notable figures such as Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma and Singapore Literature Prize winners Prasanthi Ram and Marylyn Tan, expressed concern about NLB’s uncritical support for generative AI. In particular, they criticised the library’s recent programmes, such as StoryGen, a generative AI prototype developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which was introduced in early 2024. The statement urged the NLB to avoid presenting AI as an alternative to traditional writing development.
The literary community also voiced alarm over the ethical implications of generative AI, particularly regarding intellectual property. The statement highlighted that NLB’s promotion of such technologies risks normalising “intellectual theft” and undermining writers’ rights. The concern grew in light of the NLB-hosted event titled Children Write: Publish A Book With Gen-AI, aimed at children aged seven to twelve, which the writers argued could perpetuate the misconception that AI can replace foundational writing skills.
Another key issue raised was the environmental impact of generative AI, with the group noting that the energy consumed by AI tools—such as the process of generating a single email via ChatGPT—contradicts the NLB’s sustainability efforts. They also called for a public discussion on the ethical use of AI, with particular emphasis on educating the public about its limitations and potential harms.
While the signatories acknowledged the potential uses of AI tools in the literary arts, they stressed that the NLB, as a national institution, holds a responsibility to guide the public in using AI responsibly. The statement, directed to key figures at the NLB, including Chairman Lee Seow Hiang and Chief Executive Ng Cher Pong, as well as Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, also requested a formal consultation with the literary community on the matter.
One of the organisers of the statement, author Ng Yi-Sheng, shared that NLB’s Chief Librarian Gene Tan had already read the letter and initiated a dialogue. However, Ng expressed that the NLB’s current efforts—such as the official StoryGen website aimed at educating users about AI ethics—were insufficient.
Concerns about AI’s misuse of copyrighted material have intensified, particularly with the revelation that large language models like ChatGPT have been trained on materials without proper authorisation from copyright holders. Notably, the names of Singaporean authors such as Balli Kaur Jaswal, Ovidia Yu, and Rachel Heng, along with the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, were found in databases that list authors whose work was allegedly used to train AI systems without consent.
The Straits Times has reached out to the NLB for its official response to the writers’ statement.
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