Author Kim Ae-ran spoke at a press conference on September 10 at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, ahead of her opening discussion with Chilean writer Benjamin Labatut at the 2026 Seoul International Writers' Festival.
The festival, taking place from September 11 to 16 at the Ara Art Center in Jongno-gu, will feature 24 writers from Korea and abroad. This year's theme is 'Who are you?' which prompts questions about identity in an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly encroaching on human language and creative fields.
In their opening discussion, Kim and Labatut will respond to the question 'Who are you?' with 'We are human.'
Kim highlighted 'inefficiency' as a defining characteristic of humanity. She stated, 'Humans are the only beings that can make choices contrary to their own interests, engaging in sacrifices, devotion, and care, which are often inefficient and irrational. The legacy of humanities we have built is indeed an intellectual heritage accumulated through a long, inefficient process.'
She added, 'The term human is complex and broad. It carries both negative and positive connotations, and not every human needs to be admirable. It makes me reflect on the beautiful inefficiency that flows from tearing apart the physical body.'
For Kim, AI presents an unavoidable question for writers. She remarked, 'The AI environment is the biggest common denominator that writers face today,' emphasizing her focus on the workings of literature rather than the mechanics of technology.
'When real-time translation features first appeared on social media, there was hope for richer, faster, and deeper communication. However, what actually occurred was conflict and hatred, contributing to wars. In some ways, one of the virtues of literature is that it does not create illusions about communication.'
She explained that rapid language exchange does not equate to understanding, stating, 'Just because language is exchanged quickly does not mean communication is achieved; it highlights how difficult and arduous that process can be. Literature serves as a medium that contributes to communication by revealing the challenges involved.' She further noted, 'Compared to AI, which is specialized in integrating knowledge and information, literature has long confessed its ignorance about the world and humanity in diverse ways.'
Labatut expressed confidence that literature remains secure even in the age of AI. He stated, 'The reality is that AI cannot write excellent prose. Literature is not only strong in language but ultimately reflects the way humans exist. It is art imbued with the human soul.' He added, 'Just as people are not interested in watching two AI Go players compete, they will seek books that embody human experiences.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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