AI Failure Leaves Clients Disappointed
Can the resurgence of Bibliomondo, the rebranded Quebec Leisure Books Club, be a reality in the digital age? According to its new owner, Ronald Brisebois, it sure can. He acquired Quebec Loisirs in 2022 and transformed it into Bibliomondo, aiming to utilize AI for enhancing book data.
The Bibliomondo site used AI to create fake press reviews from notable media outlets such as Le Devoir, La Presse, Le Journal de Montréal, Libraires, Lurelu, and Radio-Canada Livres, among others, to boost sales. These exaggerated reviews were found on the site under book notices, including Le monstre aux chaises by Marc Godard and Baignades by Andréa A. Michaud.
Upon investigation, Le Devoir verified these reviews to be fabricated. The site also falsely attributed real press quotes to Radio-Canada for books like Baignades.
In a video interview, Ronald Brisebois revealed that Bibliomondo enriches "book data: the description, why read this book, comments, whether people liked it, if it has five stars or four and a half, reviews..." The president of InMédia Technologies, which sells tools to libraries, explained that they aim to add a quiz about the author and a book trailer to further enhance the user experience.
However, he admitted that a human error caused the non-validation of enriched content on a small percentage of book notices (less than 3%). These fake reviews were removed from the site on May 30, following the interview.
Bibliomondo now boasts 57,000 subscribers and annual revenues between $8 to $10 million. The website offers an exciting book club model, providing a free book with every order. Still, the legitimacy and long-term success of the platform remain questionable in the face of these errors and misleading practices.
- Artificial-intelligence was used by Bibliomondo to create deceptive press reviews for books like Le monstre aux chaises and Baignades, but the president of InMédia Technologies admit that a human error caused the non-validation of enriched content on a small percentage of book notices.
- Despite the controversies surrounding its use of AI for fake press reviews and its questionable practices, Bibliomondo has managed to attract 57,000 subscribers and generate annual revenues between $8 to $10 million, offering an exciting book club model with a free book for every order.
