Putting aside whether or not the author used AI to write this - the concern here is that the content is accurate and correct, right? So suppose they did use AI to write it - your end goal is actually the same - you want a trustworthy, accurate, source of information.
In this sense AI does not actually detract from that - so long as there IS an author associated to the book, that author can build a reputation for thoroughly reviewed and high quality textbooks. So in the end, some authors will be known for a reputation for making good books, and the use of AI should give us access to a larger quantity of books, addressing more and more niche topics, for lower costs. So, this should be a good thing for education?
I'm very much just writing my thoughts down, but curious to know if others agree or disagree with this.
> the concern here is that the content is accurate and correct, right?
> In this sense AI does not actually detract from that [...] that author can build a reputation for thoroughly reviewed and high quality textbooks.
The issue is a lot of the AI generated books out there aren't carefully reviewed and it being AI written is an early sign it's crap at the moment, and it's expensive cognitively to build a list of "trusted authors" or to know when searching if you're finding true reviews by people who can meaningfully evaluate the content of the book or if you hit an AstroTurf post fluffing the author.
The other indicator and thing that puts at least myself off is that if the author used AI significantly in the process they didn't care enough about writing it before to put the real human effort into writing it so the chances it's worth spending my real human time reading is low.
> the concern here is that the content is accurate and correct, right?
I think there's more, we just take it for granted because it's usually included. Imagine a teacher--perhaps a whimsical one in a Roald Dahl story--who is always very accurate and correct. However, somehow they always present things in a way that cripples students' future progress and understanding.
Most human communication involves some level of simulating the mind you expect was/will-be at the other end. This aspect becomes extra-important when teaching, because teaching about trying to change how that student-mind operates.
So the facts being imparted are secondary, and in many cases carefully incorrect facts must be used before you can introduce better ones.
In this sense AI does not actually detract from that - so long as there IS an author associated to the book, that author can build a reputation for thoroughly reviewed and high quality textbooks. So in the end, some authors will be known for a reputation for making good books, and the use of AI should give us access to a larger quantity of books, addressing more and more niche topics, for lower costs. So, this should be a good thing for education?
I'm very much just writing my thoughts down, but curious to know if others agree or disagree with this.