Taipei: Linking Publishing, one of Taiwan's largest publishers, has initiated trials of an AI-assisted reading system during the 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition (TiBE). The system, called "Linking AI Books," offers book recommendations from a collection of over 6,000 titles and provides interactive guides to 13 selected books, including Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time."
According to Focus Taiwan, Chen Shih-hao, head of the system development project, stated that the publisher is exploring new reading methods by leveraging the AI boom. Unlike AI chatbots that may provide inaccurate information, "Linking AI Books" relies on a closed database developed with contributions from authors, editors, and translators to ensure information accuracy.
Despite these precautions, users have expressed concerns about the system's ability to provide accurate information. There have been suggestions to display original book passages that support the system's responses. Chen noted that the system is still in its validation stage.
Doris Chen, general manager of Linking Publishing, explained that the motivation behind the system's development was to make academic and humanities publications more accessible to the public. She emphasized that the goal is to transform reading into an interactive process, not to replace writers or traditional reading methods. Chen concluded that the system aims to serve as a reading partner for users, enhancing their engagement with the content.