Canadian author Margaret Atwood, aged 84, recently shared insights into her writing career and her views on artificial intelligence. In an interview given in Denmark, where she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award, Atwood explained that she does not feel concerned about the growing role of AI in creative fields, despite how it worries younger generations. Atwood, whose writing career began with her first poetry collection in 1961 and debut novel “The Edible Woman,” in 1969, has produced over 60 works, spanning novels, children’s literature, and essays. Reflecting on her prolific career, Atwood remarked that she experiences genuine enjoyment in writing, an attitude she believes is apparent from her extensive literary output.

Atwood noted that AI’s limitations, particularly in poetry and fiction, were evident after reviewing AI-generated writing under her name last year, which she described as “really bad.” She expressed that if she were a younger artist, such as a graphic designer, she might feel apprehensive about AI’s potential. However, her relaxed perspective comes from viewing AI as currently unable to replicate human creativity convincingly. Atwood’s acclaimed dystopian novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” has remained relevant, especially since Donald Trump’s presidential election in 2016, leading to increased book sales and a widely anticipated sequel, “The Testaments,” in 2019. Her latest release, “Old Babes in the Wood,” published in 2021, reflects on personal themes of grief, marriage, and loss, partly inspired by the death of her husband, author Graeme Gibson. Currently, Atwood is working on a memoir, which she humorously plans to fill with minor mishaps and significant challenges.