Thinking of using ChatGPT to write a best seller? This will make you think twice

One of the promises that ChatGPT and other advanced learning technologies can deliver is the ability to produce content. This includes everything from a press release to a novel. Already some ChatGPT scripted texts are on sale via outlets like Amazon. How successful are these ventures?

According to data compiled by Vishesh Gupta, from CBH and provided to Digital Journal, ChatGPT can indeed ‘write’ books, but the sales are so far limited, with 95 percent failing to provide a return and the overall public response appearing to be lukewarm.

The 4^th generation of OpenAI’s algorithm is capable of producing a varied content, including a blog, a social media post, codes, songs, novels, and even full-length books.

In terms of books, it is estimated that over 1000 books have been published using ChatGPT in terms of availability on Amazon. Most of these books are co-authored. The tally of 1000 comes in less than six-months, following the launch of ChatGPT in a format accessible to the general public.

As to whether this form of AI will kill the content writer’s job, this remains a little way off, since the published books data reveals that they are published after a lot of human intervention (euphemistically ‘value addition’ by human writers.

Out of the 1000 or so books, only 12 are written solely by ChatGPT. In terms of examples, three books written solely by ChatGPT (that is no human co-author) are:

1. ABCs of ChatGPT: How to Use ChatGPT 101
2. Make More Money with ChatGPT: Ideas, Examples, and Guides For Starting and Growing Your Business
3. Talk with God: Exploring Religion and Spirituality with ChatGPT

As to how good these books are, this is a question for those with the time and patience to assess them, although the three areas of subject matter are hardly page turners.

In terms of how successful the books are, considering all books with some level of ChatGPT involvement, over 90 percent of the books have not sold even one. It is also apparent few have been reviewed, with only 91 books having a customer review out of the 1000 available.

In terms of the types of books registering some level of sales, the table below provides an indication of the subject matter:

In terms of the table above, the number of ratings received to date are:  

The study reveals that there is little to no sales for these AI written books. For those who are thinking they can become an overnight sensation using the technology, this study will make you think twice.