Russian Writers at Cairo Book Fair: Artificial Intelligence Threatens Human Creativity

As part of the Cairo International Book Fair’s cultural program, the Russian House in Cairo, in cooperation with the Egyptian-Russian Friendship Association, organized a significant literary evening attended by renowned Russian novelist and writer Anna Matveeva, and journalist, poet, and Editor-in-Chief of Literaturnaya Gazeta, Maxim Zamshev.

The discussion was moderated by Sherif Ged, Secretary-General of the Egyptian-Russian Friendship Association, with translation provided by Diana Ivanova.

Ged introduced Anna Matveeva, highlighting her extensive body of critical literary articles and her distinguished career, including winning the prestigious Big Book Award twice. He also noted that her novel Every Hundred Years received a cinematic adaptation award.

He further introduced Maxim Zamshev, whose journalistic writings led to his entry being banned in 29 European countries amid sanctions imposed on Russia.

The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Vadim Zaitchikov, Director of the Russian Cultural Centers in Egypt, who greeted the Russian literary delegation and the large Egyptian audience interested in Russian culture, alongside members of the Russian community in Egypt. He emphasized that such meetings strengthen cultural dialogue between Russia and Egypt, noting that modern literature represents a vital platform for addressing contemporary issues and fostering mutual understanding, as well as promoting interest in language, culture, and shared values of friendship.

Russian writer Anna Matveeva

In his speech, Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, Chairman of the Egyptian-Russian Friendship Association, welcomed the Russian writers, stressing that their participation offers an important opportunity to engage with contemporary Russian literature and discover a new generation of young writers.

Maxim Zamshev spoke about the vibrant and inexhaustible nature of creativity in modern Russian literature, pointing out the presence of a large group of talented contemporary authors.

Anna Matveeva, meanwhile, addressed the dangers of using artificial intelligence in creative processes, whether in writing or translation. She surprised the audience by presenting a book produced entirely using AI, describing it as a poor-quality work and offering it as an example of the uncontrolled misuse of artificial intelligence. She warned that some writers resort to this method, calling it a “cultural catastrophe,” while refusing to name individuals, noting that new programs can now detect improper AI usage.

Russian writer Maxim Zamshev

A rich and engaging dialogue followed between the speakers and the audience, addressing major cultural and translation-related issues.

Amid discussions on the growing dominance of e-books over printed books due to rising publishing costs, participants agreed that despite these challenges, printed books will continue to hold special significance for most readers because of their emotional and nostalgic value.

Dr. Mohamed Nasr El-Gabaly, Professor of Russian Literature, highlighted the issue of intellectual property rights for translators, explaining that it can hinder the translation of original texts and reduce the volume of available translations. He emphasized the importance of Russia adopting initiatives to support translation from Russian into foreign languages.

In an open discussion, Shady Hussein El-Shafie, President of the Russian Foundation for Culture and Science, expressed the foundation’s readiness to continue supporting translation efforts. Contributions also came from poet Yasser Qatamesh, journalist Ahmed Mahmoud of Dar Al-Hilal, Dr. Ahmed Taher, Director of the Dialogue Center, Larisa Razova, Vice President of the Russian Community in Egypt, literary critic Manal Radwan, and writer Abdel Nasser El-Banna.

The evening concluded with Maxim Zamshev and Anna Matveeva presenting their latest works, expressing their strong desire to see them translated into Arabic to connect more closely with Arab readers.