India's 'first AI scam': Probe ordered into fake library books
An Indian high court has ordered an anti-corruption investigation after a new mega library allegedly purchased hundreds of AI-generated books containing fabricated information.
The Madras High Court in India has ordered an anti-corruption investigation into allegations that a major public library in Tamil Nadu purchased hundreds of AI-generated books. Judges also directed authorities to freeze bank accounts linked to the supplying publisher.
The scandal centres on the newly opened Periyar Arivulagam library in Coimbatore, built at a cost of around 3bn rupees (£26m). Acclaimed Tamil novelist Perumal Murugan raised the alarm after discovering that nearly 1,800 titles in the Tamil collection contained fabricated information, false references, and dubious authorship.
Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister A Rajmohan described the episode as potentially "India's first AI scam", confirming that library purchases across the state would face audits. The case has intensified scrutiny over the cheap, automated generation of books without editorial oversight.
Source: BBC News
