Humazon: A Bookstore for Humans, by Humans
Author Hugh Howey reflects on the history of content farms in publishing, from the Stratemeyer Syndicate to James Patterson, and how AI is now accelerating this trend. He argues that readers and writers are the only parties that truly matter, and while he has no objection to AI-generated books, he personally craves authenticity. He challenges the industry to create a 'Humazon'—a bookstore with a 100% human badge—confident that demand will make it profitable.
If there was a Waldenbooks full of Pattersons and Stratemeyers, and a Humazon store full of 100% human books, I’d never go into the Waldenbooks again.