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Resisting Generative AI: A Writer’s Perspective

Dear readers,

It has been quite a while since I’ve published a longer blog piece. This is because I have been so lucky to be very busy in my literary corner of the world. If you follow me on Instagram @katelovesliterature, then you’ll be as up-to-date as one can be. I’ve been reviewing lots of books for Children’s Books Ireland as usual, and I’ve gotten to be a Book Doctor at some CBI Book Clinics which is such a pleasure. I feel so privileged to get to speak to young readers about books that they love.

It’s been a creative time in many ways. I’ve been watching many movies as always, I’ve been writing, and I’m so thrilled that we have relaunched Your Book or Mine?

In our latest episode, Seán, my co-host and I, discussed all things fantasy as we chatted all about A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. You can listen now on Spotify.

Alongside general literary chats, if you follow me on Instagram then you will know that I am very passionately anti-AI. Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to write about this topic and express my thoughts and concerns about the use of generative AI specifically.

I am very thankful that my experience and my qualifications in the realm of English literature have given me the platforms that allow me to highlight my concerns around this topic, especially highlighting my issues with the decline in media literacy, and while I feel that it is important that our imaginations are preserved rather than having generative AI use pushed on us through false assertions that using AI is the same as being creative and writing or articulating ideas ourselves.

I created and shared this post on @katelovesliterature a while ago. It has been viewed over 14 thousand times, and I feel it really sums up my feelings on this topic.

I really encourage you to read further and learn about why so many people, particularly those of us who are writers, editors, illustrators, and creatives, feel so strongly about why using generative AI is incredibly disappointing. There are many wonderful pieces out there, and I am lucky enough that I have been invited to share my perspective on more than one occasion.

You can read my first article “Why We Should Resist Generative AI” on writing.ie https://www.writing.ie/resources/resist-generative-ai-kate-obrien/

I was also delighted to be invited to contribute to DCU’s MA in Children’s and YA Lit blog.

I’m very proud of the time I spent studying at DCU, and this MA programme truly made me feel fulfilled. I loved my time on the course. I have remained connected with my classmates, I’ve gotten to explore brilliant opportunities, and I’ve forged some fantastic connections through my time on this MA programme in DCU’s School of English, so I was honoured and proud to be invited to contribute.

Not only have I gotten to further delve into this topic that I’m passionate about, but I have been allowed to explore this topic in a three-part series that will be published on DCU’s MA in Children’s and YA Lit blog. I’m very proud of the work that has gone into this series, and very grateful for the collaboration that took place with Alex at DCU. We went back and forth to make sure the pieces were just right.

You can read part one titled “Respecting Literature for Children and Rejecting Generative AI” now. https://dublincityuniversitychildrensandyaliterature.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/part-1-respecting-literature-for-children-and-rejecting-generative-ai/

I look forward to seeing parts two and three being published soon, and I hope to return to writing longer literary discussions here on Katelovesliterature.com very soon, but for now, I’m enjoying being so busy in my own little literary corner. If you know that reference, please do leave a comment!

If you’re satisfied with a draft that was spat out in seconds then I fear you don’t love writing as much as you think you do.

I could not resist sharing this quote from my first blog post in the series. It has resonated with a few people so far, and I hope it continues to. May we always keep our wonder.

Kate xo.

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

A book review by Kate O’Brien.

Can you imagine a world where books are deemed valueless by society? Can you picture living in a world where no one asks questions, where even walking outside is deemed suspicious? Can you imagine the chaos of what would happen if firemen were no longer heroic figures who put out flames and instead, they lit houses on fire instead? The scary thing is maybe we can picture this world. Ray Bradbury brings this world to life in Fahrenheit 451.

Guy Montag is a fireman. He has always been a fireman. His father was a fireman, his grandfather was a fireman, and these days it is almost like his hands move by themselves, pouring kerosene and lighting matches as though he has no part in the action. He is happy to be part of the world that never reads until he is not. Guy’s mindset begins to shift when his young neighbour Clarisse awakens a long-forgotten part of his mind, if it was ever awake at all, the part that likes to think, by asking a few questions. Then one day, a horrific fire forces Guy to admit that his hands do not move of their own accord. He does indeed start fires, he burns books and with them, he burns curiosity, he burns access to information, he burns wonder and stories until he can no longer burn anything anymore. Maybe he should take a look inside these books, maybe he should see what all the fuss is about, maybe he does not wish to be a fireman anymore.

Fahrenheit 451 is rather bleak, and it explores heavy themes such as conforming vs questioning, the individual vs society, emptiness vs meaning. This dystopian book may be desolate and at times it is quite dark, however it does end on a hopeful note, one that notes the resilience of humanity after exploring how cold humanity can become.

This book is about book burning, but not in the way that one might expect. Fahrenheit 451 is not about certain groups of people burning and banning certain kinds of books, this book is about a world where all books are deemed worthless. Fahrenheit 451 presents a world in which all emotions aside from happiness are repressed. You cannot have too many thoughts, you cannot have conflicting ideas, you cannot know about any dangers or sadness because none of those things are fun. Go speeding in your car, have walls of television, have constant media playing through earbuds, even when you sleep, escape all thoughts, escape all reflection, and just have fun. All fun, all the time should be great, shouldn’t it? We may think so, but within all this fun, within all this constant, relentless distraction, there is nothing but cold, empty, misery.

I really enjoyed this book, despite it being more on the bleak side of the reading scale.

I have always been in a position where access to books has never been a question. I have always been able to read anything that I wanted, and I recognise that this is a privilege. It is easy to take books and access to all kinds of books for granted sometimes, which is why I felt that Fahrenheit 451 was an especially important read. I would recommend this book to readers aged 14+.

I had the opportunity to discuss this book even further alongside my podcast co-host Seán, and if you are interested in the themes I mentioned up above, you can listen to episode #04 of Your Book or Mine? now on Spotify.

#JoinTheBookClub

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Introducing Your Book or Mine?

Introducing Your Book or Mine?

Today’s piece is a bit different. I will be sharing my New York travel diary next week, and after that I will be sharing my Frankfurt travel diary so there are lots of literary adventures coming soon. If literary cities are your cup of tea then stay tuned, and if you have not already read my previous travel diaries, why not check them out now? I hope you’ll find some travel inspiration.

Today I am introducing a new literary project that I am very proud of.

If you follow me on Instagram you may already know my news…

Today is the official launch day of my brand new podcast Your Book or Mine?

I have co-created and I will co-host this brand new, book club podcast alongside my fellow book lover Seán. Each month we will be reading a different book, alternating between classics and new, modern reads to discuss on the podcast.

Our inaugural episode is officially OUT NOW on Spotify.

Listen here … https://open.spotify.com/show/4v4EUXExWofeK4NFhQMcVU

We’ve discussed the twists and turns of Jane Austen’s Emma, as this is a novel that is filled with gossip, scandal, secrets, heartbreak, and romance.

We hope you will #jointhebookclub and follow us on Instagram.

You can find us @yourbookorminepod

We hope you will read alongside us and let us know all of your thoughts on the book chats we’re having.

I’m very proud of this new project, and I’m so excited that the first episode is finally available for everyone to enjoy. A new episode will be airing once a month, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to discuss a broad range of brilliant books.

I love presenting and speaking about all things literature. At Beehive Books, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to host the ‘Interviews with Authors’ miniseries. Chatting to various authors about their books, published by Beehive Books, has been an excellent experience and you can tune in every other week on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/7r1cKcwvLTeAZ9opibdREc

I have wanted to create a literary podcast for a long time now, and I am so happy that I have found the perfect person to collaborate with. Seán is a fellow book lover, he is a fantastic writer, he has created videos about all forms of media on his YouTube channel @CicadaWave … He enjoys horror, ghost stories, classics, and anything with a touch of the macabre. Our different points of view, combined with our shared interests that have a great way of balancing each other out makes for a really fun, really interesting dynamic, and I look forward to co-hosting Your Book or Mine? with him this year.

I have a feeling that 2024 will be a great year. There are so many things that I am looking forward to, and many things that I am excited to do. I’ve received so much encouragement, support, and lovely feedback about the new podcast already. Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out, you know who you are.

I hope you will all enjoy Your Book or Mine?

Join the book club. Follow us on Instagram. Listen on Spotify.

You can also get in touch – yourbookorminepodinfo@gmail.com

#JoinTheBookClub