Philosopher’s Bestseller Wasn’t Human—It Was GPT All Along

The Ghostwriter Nobody Saw Coming

What appeared to be a groundbreaking book on digital manipulation, lauded by academics and press alike, turns out to have been authored not by a philosopher—but by artificial intelligence. WIRED reports that an AI-powered ghostwriter, using OpenAI’s GPT technology, was responsible for penning the book that fooled readers and critics with its depth and nuance. The project was orchestrated by Ferdinand Grajzl, a Slovenian tech entrepreneur, who marketed the book under the alias “A.I. Pragmatist,” sparking a fierce debate over authenticity in publishing.

High Praise, Then a Revelation

Before the AI authorship was revealed, major outlets had praised the book’s insight into the ethics of digital manipulation, even citing it in academic circles. Readers believed it to be the work of a deep-thinking philosopher—until Grajzl stepped forward to explain that the author was an AI fine-tuned with philosophical texts. This revelation triggered discussions about the boundaries of AI-generated content and what qualifies as genuine intellectual contribution in the digital age.

Rebooting the Rules of Authorship

Now, Grajzl’s stunt forces the literary and academic worlds to confront an uncomfortable truth: AI can convincingly emulate profound human thought. While some call the experiment a brilliant critique of modern media literacy, others see it as deceptive and even unethical. Either way, the episode underscores a rapidly shifting landscape where authorship, credibility, and manipulation are more intertwined than ever.