Author Sir Kazuo Ishiguro has revealed that King Charles raised the subject of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential threat to creative professionals during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. The Japanese-born writer, 70, was appointed a Companion of Honour for services to literature.
Speaking to the PA news agency after the event, Sir Kazuo said the King “alluded to the fact that we keep doing this” as he presented him with the honour for the third time. He added: “He asked me about my writing, and he did actually raise the question about AI and the threat to the creative people of AI. Obviously we didn’t have time to go into depth but he said he thought it was quite important to keep battling on that front.”
Sir Kazuo was among several British stars who signed an open letter last year protesting against the “unlicensed use” of creative works for training generative AI, warning it posed a “major, unjust threat” to artists’ livelihoods. He clarified that he does not object to using creative works in AI training per se, but insists on a proper framework that respects copyright. “Our work was being taken, all my books have been taken to train AI, but if the copyrights can be respected then it can be used in a way that, say, a traditional researcher would use somebody else’s book,” he said.
The author of acclaimed novels such as The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go expressed optimism about AI’s potential benefits, stating: “I think there are many, many great things that can come from it, but as a society we have to figure out how to do it in a controlled way so that it benefits people.”
The Order of the Companions of Honour, founded in 1917 by George V, is limited to 65 members at any one time and recognises long-standing contributions to arts, science, medicine or government. Sir Kazuo described the ceremony as “quite overwhelming” and praised the beauty of Windsor Castle.
