AI can take on lots of tasks these days, even book writing. But do we really want that? What if, instead, AI could enhance our interactions with books?
Vancouver’s Legible shows that’s possible, as it turns George Orwell’s classic – Animal Farm – into an AI-powered Living Book.
“This version of Animal Farm will allow readers to interact with the characters and discuss events as they unfold,” explains Kaleeg Hainsworth, founder and CEO of Legible, the world’s first globally accessible browser-based eReading platform and eBookstore with over two million ebooks.
Legible chose Animal Farm because it remains a popular title with readers almost 80 years after it was first published. Its underlying themes of power, corruption, propaganda, and ‘following blindly’ are as relevant today as they were in 1945. Hainsworth believes the AI version will lure a new generation of readers to Animal Farm.
“Audiences can really dive into the thematic elements: Snowball’s motivation behind the Seven Commandments, Napoleon’s use of propaganda – and a key character will discuss each query and carry on a conversation with the reader,” adds Hainsworth.
The ebook will also include the audio, video, and animation elements that comprise Legible’s unique Living Books. It will be exclusively available to purchase and read on Legible.
But Legible doesn’t stop at literary classics. The organization also plans to bring modern intellectual properties to life. It recently signed a deal with children’s media company Genius Brands, which has a portfolio of family-friendly content including the Stan Lee brand.
“Genius produces the Globally-acclaimed Rainbow Rangers, which is already on Netflix. But it’ll get new stories, new character development, and a new audience as a multimedia-enriched ebook,” explains Hainsworth.
Legible will also create a ‘Game Book’ based on Kartoon Channel!’s game show for tweens, KC! Pop Quiz, hosted by influencer Casey Simpson.
“Whether it is with its Living Books or its AI-powered experiences, Legible is at the forefront of literary storytelling technology,” says Jon Ollwerther, Genius Brands Executive Vice President of Business Development. “And we are thrilled to expand our brands through its platform.”
The AI-enhanced version of Animal Farm is scheduled for release in August.
Legible recently launched LibrarianAI with integrated ChatGPT technology, making it the only eBookstore to offer an AI-powered book discovery ‘chatbot’. Integrating ChatGPT’s legacy knowledge and capabilities provides a whole new way to access the two million eBooks in Legible’s catalogue.
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