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Dennis Altman's Adoring Fans: AI and the New Literary Hoax

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ENRICHED

Details

Date Published
15 Apr 2024
Priority Score
2
Australian
Yes
Created
15 Apr 2026, 02:00 pm

Authors (2)

Description

A veteran writer and scholar has been getting some very flattering and inventive emails, purportedly from people wanting to promote his work, one way or another.   There may be a little AI involved.. Guest: Dennis Altman, writer and gay rights activist. Author of an article in Australian Book Review about literary AI Producer: Ann Arnold

Summary

This discussion features Australian scholar Dennis Altman detailing a sophisticated AI-driven literary scam involving highly personalized emails designed to deceive authors. It highlights the emerging capability of Large Language Models (LLMs) to effectively interpret the literary world and execute targeted social engineering attacks. While the focus is on a specific hoax, it demonstrates how frontier AI enables low-cost, high-volume deception that threatens information integrity and institutional trust. The segment reflects growing concerns within the Australian cultural sector regarding the lack of guardrails for generative AI in creative and academic industries.

Body

A veteran writer and scholar has been getting some very flattering and inventive emails, purportedly from people wanting to promote his work, one way or another.  There may be a little AI involved.. Guest: Dennis Altman, writer and gay rights activist. Author of an article in Australian Book Review about literary AIProducer: Ann ArnoldCreditsDavid Marr, PresenterAnn Arnold, ProducerImage DetailsThere appears to be a new AI specialty - interpreting the literary world and targeting authors.(Pexels: graphic by Wes Cockx )Program:More from Late Night LiveBooks and Literature, Universities, Information Technology Industry Appears In Ian Dunt's UK, the Colombo plan and AI publishing scamsDuration: 54 minutes 19 seconds54m 3itemsIn this episode1 of 3Ian Dunt's UK: Labour's trade plans for the EU, Starmer says no to Hormuz blockade, and Orban's loss a blow to the European far rightDuration: 13 minutes 27 seconds13m 2 of 3The forgotten achievements of the Colombo PlanDuration: 23 minutes 45 seconds23m 3 of 3PlayingDennis Altman's adoring fansDuration: 17 minutes 7 seconds17m