An investigation has been launched by the Madras High Court into allegations that a public library in Tamil Nadu, southern India, purchased hundreds of books suspected of being generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The controversy began after Tamil novelist Perumal Murugan raised concerns about books containing false information and questionable authorship at a newly opened library in Coimbatore city.
The controversy centers around the Periyar Arivulagam library, built at a cost of approximately 3 billion rupees ($34 million; £26 million). The library, named after social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy, was inaugurated on October 16 by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Murugan, whose novels Pyre and One Part Woman have received international recognition, raised concerns after visiting the library last month. He alleged that nearly 1,800 books in its Tamil section had been supplied by a little-known publisher called Agal Vilakku Pathippagam.
The state's anti-corruption agency has been ordered to investigate the purchases and freeze bank accounts linked to the accused publisher. The state government has blamed the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party-led administration for buying the books, while the DMK denies the allegations. Tamil Nadu's School Education Minister A Rajmohan described the allegations as potentially "India's first AI scam" and said the investigation would cover purchases at other public libraries across the state.
The case has raised wider questions about the growing use of AI in publishing, where tools can generate entire books quickly and cheaply but also produce false information and invented references. It has also highlighted the challenges facing libraries and publishers in checking the authenticity of books as AI-generated content becomes more widespread. The controversy has prompted a call for an independent inquiry from over 160 writers, academics, artists, and publishers, who have also called for the recovery of public money if the investigation finds that funds were misused.