The Wholesale Plagiarism of Obscure Sorrows
A plagiarized website of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
A new website has emerged, bearing a striking resemblance to The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a decade-long project by John Koenig to create a dictionary of made-up words for emotions that we all feel but don’t have the words to express. The polished site includes everything you’d expect from a publisher’s promotional book site, but with one key difference: it encourages users to generate new words and definitions using AI. This raises questions about the role of AI in creative work and the potential for plagiarism. The original creator, John Koenig, has confirmed that he is not involved with the new website. ## What happened The new website, thedictionaryofobscuresorrows.com, was launched in August 2023, two years after the original book was published. It includes the entire text of the book, from its opening 800-word foreword to a complete archive of all 311 neologisms, with their accompanying definitions, etymology, and short essays, all penned by Koenig. However, the book’s original photo-collage illustrations made by Koenig and several other artists are conspicuously missing, replaced by AI-generated images made with DALL-E 2. The site also features a Submit A Sorrow feature, which uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 to generate new words, etymology, and definition. ## Why it matters The emergence of this plagiarized website has significant implications for creators and the future of creative work. It highlights the need for creators to be vigilant about protecting their work in the age of AI and raises questions about the role of AI in creative work. The use of AI to generate new words and definitions also raises concerns about the potential for plagiarism and the devaluation of human creativity.
- The new website may introduce The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows to a new audience
- The use of AI to generate new words and definitions could potentially lead to new and innovative ideas
- The website may provide a platform for users to engage with the project in a new way
- The website is a clear example of plagiarism and a violation of John Koenig’s copyright
- The use of AI to generate new words and definitions may devalue human creativity and the original work
- The website may damage the reputation of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows and its creator
What is The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows?+
Is the new website a legitimate extension of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows?+
What are the implications of this plagiarized website for creators?+
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