Artificial Intelligence Integration into Online Reading Platforms Taaghche and Fidibo Has Led to Significant Changes and Has Generally Received Positive Feedback from Users.
This Technology, with its ability to process vast amounts of data and machine learning algorithms, has created new avenues for content creation, distribution, and consumption. However, one of the main challenges hindering the progress of this trend is the lack of sufficient Persian language resources in AI, slowing down its development.
According to Iran digital economy annotation, personalized recommendations, improved user experience, discovering new books, and content creation are some of the benefits of introducing this technology to these platforms.
AI Wanders Among the Bookshelves
Saeed Sakaki, the Product Manager of Taaghche, explained the role of AI in online reading platforms with an example: “The impact of AI can be considered significant in many ways. Imagine walking into a massive bookstore. Even if you know you want a book in the crime genre, you’re still faced with a huge shelf of crime novels. Initially, choosing a book, even with the genre in mind, can be challenging, which is where the guidance and help of knowledgeable bookstore staff come in. In online platforms, these guides are implemented as book recommendation systems powered by AI models.”
The Product Manager of Taaghche emphasized the importance of AI in the workings of online reading platforms, stating: “It’s not just about the variety and abundance of books; the diversity of users is also crucial. As the number of users grows, the guides must be knowledgeable in more areas and have read more books. Sometimes, this task is beyond human capacity, and AI’s ability to suggest books based on a vast range of options makes the process easier. What I mean is that there’s a need to match the wide range of user preferences with the extensive content available, which AI models can likely achieve more quickly and accurately.”
He believes that AI plays a significant role in both assessing the quality of book content and in meeting users’ precise needs by aligning these two aspects.
Saeed Sakaki discussed “Goldoon,” the AI-powered book recommendation engine developed by Taaghche: “Goldoon acts as a guide for book selection on Taaghche by analyzing customer behavior and offering personalized suggestions.”
Atiyeh Sarvi, the Product Manager of Fidibo, spoke about the implementation of AI in their platform: “Two major initiatives have been launched in Fidibo using AI, one of which is ‘Ravi.’ This significant project, which started in December 2023, is a text-to-speech tool applied to Persian text books for the first time in Iran. It creates audio versions of books, assisting visually impaired individuals or those temporarily unable to access printed books, such as when stuck in traffic.”
Sakaki emphasized that developing a more precise and comprehensive recommendation engine impacts user satisfaction, app performance, and the alignment of content with user needs. While AI excels at data collection and processing, it also poses job-related threats. However, using AI to process and present book information offers increased efficiency and utility.
Smiles Among Book Lovers with AI in the Library
Sakaki explained the impact of AI on recommendation systems in online reading platforms: “Simply knowing a genre isn’t enough to recommend a book; more in-depth knowledge is required. In a physical bookstore, a conversation with a knowledgeable guide leads to better recommendations. AI evaluates user behavior and preferences to suggest the closest match to their desires, even recognizing implicit needs the user may not be fully aware of.”
Taaghche’s AI has improved the conversion rate by approximately 30%, meaning users now find their desired books 30% more efficiently than before.
Sarvi shared an early comment received during the development of Ravi: “Someone wished they could listen to a book in the voice of a person they had lost. Although it was a sad comment, it motivated us to continue and invest more energy into the project, showing that our efforts had made an impact.
Sakaki acknowledged that precise audience targeting by AI tools has led to resource savings. Knowing which message or book to recommend, where, and on which platform, optimizes the process, allowing for quicker reach to the target audience. Goudarzi emphasized that the platform serves as a connection between publishers and customers, noting that the easier this connection, the more value and satisfaction are created.
Ethical and Moral Challenges of AI in the Book Industry
Sakaki pointed out the growing interest in using AI for content creation, particularly summarizing books, which might lead to misuse of publishers’ and authors’ works, infringing on their rights. Thus, respecting the rights of both publishers and users on these platforms is crucial.
He also noted, “Book recommendations and summarization are among the most popular AI applications in online reading. However, this brings both material and moral challenges. Providing detailed summaries without giving access to the full book might diminish the need to own the book itself, raising issues related to intellectual property. Additionally, AI, particularly language models like ChatGPT, greatly aids businesses in rapid content creation.”
The Taaghche Product Manager highlighted data privacy as a significant challenge for any platform.
Sarvi echoed the importance of ethical and privacy frameworks: “This is an issue we grapple with as well. The key is to consider the rights of all parties involved and ensure they are respected in the process.”
The Long Road to Success
Sarvi remarked on AI’s advancement in all businesses and industries: “I believe AI is a trend that the entire world, including Iran, is moving toward. Every company uses this technology in some way to create a better user experience, and it’s rare to find a startup exempt from this trend. I think the future of books could fully embrace this direction.”
In international examples, there is even the possibility to chat with a book, such as engaging in a Q&A with Harry from Harry Potter. This interaction, along with book summarization, makes reading quicker and more engaging, leading to a better reading experience. However, the journey will be long, requiring numerous trials to achieve the desired outcome.
Regarding the evolution of AI tools, Sarvi noted that Ravi still has a lot of room for improvement in its voice, with both positive and negative feedback from users so far. This AI tool is not meant to replace traditional audiobooks but to offer a new experience for users.
Sarvi acknowledged the challenges in developing AI in this industry: “Similar AI-based systems exist in foreign versions. Ravi provides features like highlighting digital books and adding notes to create a new user experience.”
Sakaki concluded by describing the AI’s future role in the industry: “AI can certainly strengthen the content sector, but it’s essential to respect intellectual property rights. This tool should support content creators, not become a competitor or a threat.”
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