An probe into claims that a public library in the southern state of Tamil Nadu purchased hundreds of books that may have been created with artificial intelligence has been mandated by an Indian court. The controversy started when Tamil novelist Perumal Murugan voiced concerns about books at a recently opened library in Coimbatore city that had dubious authorship and false information. The state’s anti-corruption agency has been directed by the Madras High Court to look into the purchases and freeze bank accounts connected to a publisher who is said to have supplied the books.
The former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party-led administration has been accused by the state government of purchasing the books. The DMK refutes accusations. The accusations could be “India’s first AI scam,” according to Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister A Rajmohan, who also stated that purchases made at other public libraries in the state would be investigated. The issue has sparked broader concerns about the expanding use of AI in publishing, where tools may swiftly and affordably produce complete books, but they can also generate fake references and incorrect material.
It has also brought attention to the difficulties publishers and libraries face in verifying the validity of books as AI-generated content spreads. The Periyar Arivulagam library, which cost roughly 3 billion rupees ($34 million; £26 million), is at the center of the issue. In honour of social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay officially opened it on October 16.
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