Fable Book Tracking App will remove its popular AI features after the platform generated offensive reader summaries on race, gender, sexuality and disability.
Fable’s annual reading summaries – similar in style to Spotify Wrapped – are intended to be a “playful and fun way” to celebrate readers’ “uniqueness,” said Chris Gallello, product manager, in a video posted on social networks.
Tiana Trammell was among those who received a controversial summary. When she unpacked her annual synopsis, she found a summary that suggested that she, a black reader, prioritized white authors more.
“Your journey delves deep into dark narratives and transformative tales, leaving mainstream stories breathless. Don’t forget to surface for the occasional white author, okay? the summary reads.
Other users have posted summaries of their Fable readers showing which disability stories they are reading “could make a lazy person roll their eyes” and derogatory romantic comedies read as a setting “the bar for my grinding meter.”
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Summary by Writer Danny B. Groves called him a “devotee of diversity” then continued, “Your library is a vibrant kaleidoscope of voices and experiences, which makes me wonder if you’re ever in the mood to hear the perspective of a cis, straight white man!
The comment was disorienting to Groves. He felt proud of his dedicated efforts at diverse reading, but it also reminded him of the years he went without reading because he couldn’t find books that represented him as a black, gay man.
“You wouldn’t expect to see that kind of line about the readership of someone who doesn’t read in a diverse way,” he told USA TODAY. “They wouldn’t say, ‘Are you ever in the mood to hear the perspective of a gay, trans, or black woman?'”
Fable apologizes after ‘very bigoted’ reader summaries, blames AI
In the first of two videos posted to Fable’s account, Gallello noted some changes in AI disclosure and opt-outs, saying readers’ “very bigoted” summaries were a shock to the Fable team. Fable’s use of AI was not intended to be a “surprise or deception” to users, Gallello said.
Gallello said the company had safeguards in place and a filter for offensive language: “Clearly, in both cases, it failed this time,” he said. “So I think as a company we’ve kind of underestimated the amount of work that needs to be done to ensure that these AI models… are doing it responsibly and safely.”
In a statement to USA TODAY, Fable community manager Kimberly Marsh Allee said changes were imminent:
“This week we discovered that two members of our community had received AI-generated reader summaries that are completely unacceptable to us as a company and do not reflect our values. We take full responsibility for this error and are deeply sorry that this happened We have heard feedback from enough of our community members about the use of generative AI for certain features and we have made the decision to remove these features from our. platform with immediate effect Users should. see these changes reflected in the coming days.
Trammell told USA TODAY that she didn’t have a problem with Fable’s AI summaries before this summary. The one she received in December made her feel like a reader: “Your library radiates a quest for joy, justice, and the power of personal journeys. » But she believes more internal testing should be done to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
For other users, the use of AI was the sticking point.
“I think it’s a great disservice to rely heavily on AI,” one said. An Instagram user commented. “Especially with the reading community, because many of us feel that it detracts from the whole reading experience, whether it’s the authors, the editors, the readers, or the community members in general.”
Groves agrees: “I recognize that Fable is a small team and, as a result…they are probably unable to keep up with reviewing each individual’s reader summary. But if that’s the case, there shouldn’t be an AI algorithm that immediately delivers content or generates a result that could create harm.
In a second videoreleased Friday evening, Fable said it would remove three key features that use AI.
“Having a feature that harms the community is unacceptable,” Gallello said.
Some users consider leaving Fable after AI error
A popular alternative to Goodreads, Fable is loved for its social feature that allows readers to join book clubs and candidly discuss titles. Because of the unique community feature, Groves says he will stay on Fable but prioritize other apps like Storygraph.
“I’m willing to sacrifice a summary for the reader until there is a team in place that can better moderate the results of this AI system,” he says.
On social media, some users have shared their desire to abandon the app altogether.
At the time of publication, Trammell says she was disappointed by the email responses she received from Fable, which cited the apology video and only occurred after her post gained traction . She deactivated her account after the first video was uploaded.
“I don’t want to re-establish a relationship with the app at this point,” Trammell said. “But for those people who choose to remain on the site and those who may sign up in the future, they do not need to be subject to this and it is their responsibility as a business to ensure that they that doesn’t happen.”
Groves also hopes to see Fable use the incident as a catalyst to highlight diverse readings.
“(If) your platform has become a place where people have been harmed and, as a result, people are fleeing because they don’t want to be harmed anymore, then maybe take a risk and adjust your focus, your interests and your priorities. platform to center more of these diverse stories,” Groves says.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s book reporter, where she covers hot releases, chats with authors and dives into reading culture. Find her on Instagramlook at her recent articles or tell him what you read at [email protected].
