Collective Statement from Singapore's Literary Community on AI

For the past few months, I’ve been involved in discussions with the writers, editors, translators and publishers and Singapore about the use of Generative AI in writing, particularly the National Library Board’s endorsement of this technology. With my friends—particularly Zubin Jain—I’ve created a statement to reflect the opinions we want to express.

As of the morning of Tuesday, 7 January 2025, 10:30 a.m., this letter has been signed by 68 members of the literary and publishing community. Among us, there are internationally and nationally established authors, winners of the Singapore Literature Prize, the Young Artist Award and the SEA Write Award, a recipient of the Cultural Medallion, a former President of the Singapore Book Publishers Association, and many others, representing a broad cross-section of the local scene.

Chief Librarian Gene Tan has already read the letter and initiated dialogue. He has informed me of an official NLB website which is used to educate StoryGen users about the ethical issues of AI. I personally find this insufficient. However, I am unable to speak on behalf of other signatories.

UPDATE: As of Wednesday, 8 January 2025, 11:59 p.m., we have 88 signatories, listed below. The list will continue to be updated as more are added.

The original text and list of signatories, accurate as of 7 January 2025, 10:30 a.m., may also be accessed as a PDF at this link.

Collective Statement from Singapore's Literary Community on AI

To: National Library Board, Singapore

Attn: Mr Lee Seow Hiang (Chairman)

Mr. Ng Cher Pong (Chief Executive Officer)

Mr. Gene Tan (Chief Librarian/Chief Information Officer)

Mrs. Josephine Teo (Minister for Digital Development and Information)

We, the undersigned, express deep concerns regarding NLB’s uncritical endorsement of Generative “AI”. We urge policymakers to exercise greater caution in the adoption of this technology, at the risk of permanently damaging Singapore’s literary landscape.

As representatives of Singapore’s literary and publishing community, we recognise NLB’s impressive and consistent efforts to make knowledge and culture accessible to the people of our nation. Its vast analog and digital resources, as well as its high quality event programming, are unmatched for a public institution in Southeast Asia.

However, we are alarmed by a series of initiatives that NLB has introduced since the reopening of the Central Public Library on 12 January 2024, such as “StoryGen”, “Playbrary” and workshops titled “Children Write: Publish A Book with Gen-AI” that encourage emerging writers to use “AI” generated creative works. We fear that in your “ongoing efforts to make Generative AI accessible to all,” you have failed to consider if such efforts are in the public interest and in line with your mission “to promote reading and encourage learning through the use of libraries”.

We have four major concerns:

First, there is the issue of intellectual property. Though we have been told that “StoryGen” draws exclusively from uncopyrighted material, most mainstream generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, have been trained on artworks for which permission to train has not been explicitly granted. We feel that NLB is in an institutional position to educate its citizens on ethical usage of AI. NLB’s promotion of AI has not been accompanied by warnings about the ethical problems of the field, and thereby normalises intellectual theft.

Second, we must consider the psychological impact of generative “AI”. Writing is a craft which must be developed through patience and sensitivity to language. However, this new technology disincentivises authors from putting real effort into cultivating their talents. Already, we are seeing a trend in students submitting AI-generated schoolwork instead of devoting effort to creating their own essays. [1] This has spread to the writing world, as seen in the recent revelation by Migrant Writers of Singapore that numerous submissions to its poetry competition were AI-generated. [2] NLB only adds to this culture of indolence when it platforms an event such as “Children Write: Publish A Book with Gen-AI”, which furthers a belief that use of this technology can be a substitute for traditional writing skills. Without their talents being properly nurtured, how can our next generation of writers be equipped to develop Singapore’s literary future?

Third, there is the issue of the quality of literature being produced. Generative “AI” is not in fact “intelligent”, but only mimics the material it was trained on, creating output based on statistical averages. In other words, without human intervention, “AI” literature trends towards mediocrity, without originality. Compounding this problem is the fact that generative “AI” models are already degrading, delivering erroneous and nonsensical output. [3] Emerging writers cannot be taught to rely on this tool, when its future is unstable, possibly trending towards collapse.

Fourth, there is the environmental impact. The boom of AI technology has come at a tremendous ecological cost, due to the huge demands for electricity, raw materials and water coolants for data centres. Even individual acts of AI use are costly: it has been calculated that composing a single email with ChatGPT consumes over half a litre of water, and that creating a single AI image consumes almost as much electricity as charging a cellphone from 0 to 100%. [4] NLB already promotes environmentalist values with its Children’s Biodiversity Library and its LearnX Sustainability programme. However, this is merely greenwashing if the institution does not also accompany its generative “AI” projects with caveats about its effects on the planet.

We are not demanding complete abstention from the use of AI tools. We understand that this is a still-evolving technology which has diverse applications, including in the literary arts.

Instead, we ask that you adjust your policies and programmes, removing any that suggest that Generative “AI” may be an adequate substitute for traditional writing development, and accompanying others with thoughtful commentary on its psychological and environmental impact, as well as its potential threat to intellectual property. As a national institution, NLB is uniquely positioned to educate the public on how it is possible to use AI responsibly in their work.

Furthermore, we call on the NLB to open a consultation with authors, publishers and other members of the Singapore literary community to address the concerns of the community regarding this technology.

We write to you as lifelong patrons of NLB, who deeply appreciate how your institution “nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history”. [5] We trust that you will remember this valuable role you play in our society, and invest wisely in policies that will enrich, not impoverish, our literary culture.

Yours sincerely,

Ng Yi-Sheng, writer and researcher

Ally Chua, writer

Joses Ho, poet and data scientist

Jon Gresham, writer and photographer

Shubigi Rao, writer, artist, curator, former educator

Gwee Li Sui, writer and artist

Dana Lam, writer, artist

Christine Chia, writer and educator

Jason Erik Lundberg, writer, anthologist, editor and lecturer

Marcus Ong, writer

Kayce Teo, writer

Wayne Rée, author, and comic and podcast writer

Nuraliah Norasid, writer and educator

Marylyn Tan, writer and artist

Akshita Nanda, writer

Choo Yi Feng, writer

Laura Jane Lee, poet and VO artist

Suffian Hakim, writer

Zubin Jain, editor and writer

Ianna Chia, writer and reader

Jerrold Yam, poet and lawyer

Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, author, editor and writing teacher

Nikolai Sie, writer

Ruby Thiagarajan, writer and editor

Mahita Vas, writer

Donna Tang, writer and educator

Amanda Ruiqing Flynn, writer, artist, translator, editor and educator

Victor Fernando R. Ocampo, writer and technology consultant

Myle Yan Tay, writer

Sharlene Teo, writer and academic

Alan Bay, Illustrator

Christina Sng, poet, writer, essayist, and artist

Fairoz Ahmad, writer

Diana Rahim, writer, visual artist and community worker

Vicky Chong, writer

Jennifer Teo, cultural worker

Jeremy Tiang, writer and translator

Judith Huang, writer and artist

Samuel Caleb Wee, writer and academic

Aydeel Djoeharie, writer

Clara Mok, writer and educator

Stephanie Chan, writer

Manish Melwani, writer and researcher

Bani Haykal, writer, artist and musician

Jee Leong Koh, writer, editor, and publisher

Anisha Ralhan, writer

T.A. Morton, writer

Verena Tay, writer, storyteller, and theatre practitioner

Jack Xi, writer and researcher

Heng Jia Min, writer and educator

Silvia Suseno, poet and essayist

Mak Rui Teng, Phoebe, artist, teacher, and philosopher

Ryan Yeo, poet and teacher

Lee Ann, poet, tarot reader

Jolene Tan, writer

Joyce Chng, writer

Prasanthi Ram, writer and educator

Peter Schoppert, publisher and writer

Jonathan Chan, poet, writer, and editor

Yeo Wei Wei, writer and educator

Dardanelleis Lizaso, educator and writer

Fong Hoe Fang, retiree publisher

Joan Hon, author, textbook writer, artist, educator

Ng Ziqin, writer, editor, and law student

Stella Kon, writer

Alfian Sa’at, writer

Haresh Sharma, playwright

Violet Jordan Hara, essayist

Balli Kaur Jaswal, novelist

Elvin Ching, comic artist/creator

Lucas Ho, playwright

Rosemarie Somaiah, storyteller

Jean Tay, playwright

Lune Loh, writer

O Thiam Chin, writer

Joshua Lim, reader and cultural worker

Kok Wei Liang, writer and governess

Jaryl George Solomon, educator-writer

Leong Liew Geok, poet

Carissa Cheow, writer

Yeoh Jo-Ann, writer

Mandakini Arora, writer

Jennifer Leong Soy Avocado, poet

Irie Aman, writer and community builder

Sarah Mak, writer and narrative designer

Skylar Yap, writer

Gwen Lee, writer

[1] Osmond Chia. “Teachers v ChatGPT: Schools face new challenge in fight against plagiarism.” The Straits Times. 25 November 2024. https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/teachers-v-chatgpt-schools-face-new-challenge-in-fight-against-plagiarism

[2] Charmaine Lim. “Poetry competition in Singapore recalls winners list after discovering AI-generated submissions.” The Straits Times. 25 September 2024. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/poetry-competition-in-singapore-recalls-winners-list-after-discovering-ai-generated-submissions

[3] Bernard Marr. “Why AI Models Are Collapsing And What It Means For The Future Of Technology.” Forbes. 19 August 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/08/19/why-ai-models-are-collapsing-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-technology/

[4] Megan Crouse. “Sending One Email With ChatGPT is the Equivalent of Consuming One Bottle of Water.” Tech Republic. 20 September 2024. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/generative-ai-data-center-water-use/; James Vincent. “How much electricity does AI consume?” The Verge. 16 February 2024. https://www.theverge.com/24066646/ai-electricity-energy-watts-generative-consumption

[5] About Us.” National Library Board Singapore. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/about-us