Do You Want an AI Chatbot in Your Book? Google is Betting On “Yes”

Now, CBS and Lee Mendelsohn Film Productions have reached an agreement in which the company will donate proceeds (an “undisclosed amount”) to World Central Kitchen. In the penultimate episode, The Late Show with Stephen Colbertthey highlighted nonprofits and donated $2.5 million.

Claims of copyright infringement are usually not pleasant stories, but I think we can all celebrate this outcome.

Want to incorporate AI chatbots into your books? Google is betting on “yes”

Google Play Books has launched Book Insights, “a helpful reading companion built with Gemini.” It is currently available in “selected English titles” which, based on the examples given, appears to be a public domain book. Features include a “Catch Me Up” feature that provides a summary of what you’ve read so far, and the ability to ask questions as you read, such as “Was this character introduced earlier in the book?”

Some of these features may be useful in theory, but I’m skeptical of their practical use. First, most readers don’t want to interrupt their reading experience. Adding a chatbot to a book seems to defeat the purpose of immersion in the story. Also, given how inaccurate the Google AI summaries I encountered against my will were, I don’t trust the AI ​​chatbot’s summaries of the book so far. Google’s own Book Insights press blog also acknowledges that “Book Insights is designed to give you spoiler-free answers by simply looking at the text up to your current reading position. However, the generative AI is experimental and may make mistakes.”

What do you think? Would you like to use an AI chatbot embedded in your e-book?

Renee Watson named TIME Visionary

Author Renee Watson was selected as a TIME 2026 Visionary, which recognizes “people working to improve the lives of all children.” Watson’s debut work was a picture book. Where hurricanes occurAnd she recently won a Newbery Medal for middle grade fiction. all the blues in the sky. In an op-ed for Time, she discusses her struggles with representation in literature, including her push to feature young black girls with natural hair on the cover, and how to keep it at the center of her writing.

To celebrate Ghibli season, we’ve paired each Studio Ghibli movie coming out this year with a graphic novel you’ll want to read. Ghibli films combine breathtaking artwork with moving, unforgettable stories, making graphic novels the perfect choice for your next read after watching these films. Which of the following Studio Ghibli films do you like best?