AI summaries of Project Gutenberg books

Now that there's so much discussion of the negative impact of AI on literature, I have noticed an application which I think is positive.

In the page for each Project Gutenberg book they have added a summary automatically generated with AI. Even though the summaries have their limitations, this is actually really helpful when browsing through the books of obscure authors, to get an idea of what they are about and help you choose something to read.

It seems to me that the summaries are generated using only the first few chapters, probably due to a limitation of the AI, but still they are useful, and we wouldn't have something like it without AI.

I'll paste a couple of examples with well-known books to give an idea of the quality of the summary. Obviously, for books like these the AI summary doesn't add anything, because the books are well-known and a human summary can be found easily. But Project Gutenberg is filled with really obscure titles where you cannot find summaries or information anywhere.

Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World:

"The Lost World" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the ambitious Edward Malone, who seeks to prove himself worthy of love from Gladys, a woman who craves a partner capable of grand adventures. His quest for heroism leads him to an encounter with Professor Challenger, who claims to have discovered a prehistoric land filled with extraordinary creatures. The opening of the book introduces Edward Malone as he navigates a frustrating conversation with Gladys' father, Mr. Hungerton, and builds suspense as he prepares to propose to her. However, Gladys reveals her desire for a more adventurous man, which motivates Malone to seek out opportunities for heroism. This decision propels him into the world of Professor Challenger, who has returned from a mysterious expedition to South America filled with intriguing claims of dinosaurs and lost civilizations. The early chapters highlight Malone’s character, his interactions with Gladys, and set the stage for his subsequent adventures alongside Challenger and a team of explorers. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist:

"Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens is a novel written during the early 19th century, a time when social reform became an urgent issue in England. The story follows the misadventures of Oliver, a young orphan born in a workhouse, whose life is marred by poverty and cruelty as he navigates through a society that considers him a burden. From its opening chapters, the narrative sets the stage for Oliver's struggles against the oppressive workhouse system, which exploits children and neglects their basic needs. The beginning of "Oliver Twist" introduces readers to the dire circumstances of Oliver's birth and early life, including the indifference of the workhouse authorities. After a difficult infancy spent in a cruel environment, Oliver is sent to a branch workhouse where he faces systematic mistreatment and deprivation. With no familial love or guidance, he learns quickly the harsh realities of life as a pauper. The opening chapters indicate how the workhouse environment shapes his personality and resilience while hinting at the significant encounters and challenges that await him as he seeks a better life. As we follow his journey, from infancy to a series of exploitative apprenticeships, we feel the urgency and vulnerability of his circumstances—a testament to Dickens' critique of social injustice. (This is an automatically generated summary.)