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Text-generating AI claims writer's block 'could soon be a thing of the past for young authors'
Text-generating AI Creativity Engine claims that writer’s block "could soon be a thing of the past for young authors".
The app uses the digitised archives of children’s authors, including former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, Valerie Bloom and John Agard, to "drive young writers’ imaginations". The young person starts writing a story and then take turns writing with the AI.
The project is a collaboration between Newcastle University’s Humanities Research Institute and Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books, which holds the authors’ archives. It was created by Newcastle University research software engineers Dr Tiago Sousa Garcia and Dr Kathryn Garside.
Garcia said: “It doesn’t matter how old you are: every time you see the app continuing your story in a way that makes sense but is, at the same time, unexpected, it’s like magic.”
Kris McKie, head of collections at Seven Stories, commented: “Many children’s authors and illustrators are using digital tools to develop their stories, and the young people Seven Stories works with will be growing up with new technologies such as AI. We’re looking forward to reading the stories children write with the Creativity Engine, inspired by our collection.”
The idea for the project came about from an experiment with young writers during the 2020-21 lockdown period, using a simple version of AI. Many of the stories written were nonsensical but gave the project team inspiration for the Creativity Engine.
Garside added: “Exciting developments in AI mean that it is becoming increasingly accessible for all. Merging archived materials from Seven Stories with this technology can offer new insights and inspiration while capturing the imagination of the authors of tomorrow."
The Creativity Engine was supported by the English Association and the Turing Institute. Children can craft with the Creativity Engine this half term, when sessions will be held at Newcastle City Library on Wednesday 31st May and Friday 2nd June.
