Scotland’s Makar: New writing needs protection from AI

Last year, Mackay attended a workshop for writers, publishers and academics where AI was a topic of discussion.

Attendees looked at how it might be possible to make it clear a piece of writing was not computer generated.

Mr Mackay said: “One of the things that was discussed was a Harris Tweed Orb or Kitemark-style mark to say 100% AI-free or 100% organically produced.”

Harris Tweed’s Orb logo, external is sewed in clothing, and other items that use the fabric, to show the tweed has been handwoven and finished by islanders in the Western Isles, and made from wool dyed and spun in the islands.

The British Standards Institution’s Kitemark, external has been used as a trademark on UK-made products for more than 120 years.

Mr Mackay said alternatively books created using AI could include a break down of the sources of its style and sentence structure, similar to way additives are listed on cereal boxes.

“It might outline this is 1% Vladimir Nabokov, 2% Gertrude Stein,” he said.