Penguin Random House, George R.R. Martin, OpenAI, and the Authors Guild are at the center of a growing controversy involving artificial intelligence, creative rights, and long-awaited publication deadlines. The uproar-spanning from alleged AI-generated art in a 20th-anniversary edition of A Feast for Crows to Martin's high-profile copyright lawsuit-has intensified scrutiny from fans already anxious over the delayed release of The Winds of Winter, the sixth installment of the A Song of Ice and Fire series.
The dispute erupted when readers discovered visual inconsistencies in the new illustrated edition of A Feast for Crows, published by Penguin Random House. Images featured distorted backgrounds, repeating digital patterns, and malformed hands, prompting widespread accusations on X and Reddit that generative AI had been used. The backlash grew as users dissected artwork depicting the Iron Islands with crowds dissolving into digital "sludge," as well as a character portrait displaying six fingers clutching a goblet.
Raya Golden, who oversees art direction and licensing at Fevre River, responded on Martin's blog to deny the allegations. Golden wrote that she is responsible for "approving all the licensed art that accompanies our SOI&F book driven materials," and stated, "there was NO such programming used." She emphasized that the artist had provided assurances, noting "he has expressed unequivocally that no AI was used, and we believe him." Golden added that Martin's team has never and would never "willingly work with AI generative artists in any way shape or form."
The heightened skepticism toward AI use comes as Martin pursues a landmark copyright case against OpenAI. He is among 17 authors represented by the Authors Guild accusing the company of "systematic theft on a mass scale." The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, alleges "flagrant and harmful infringements of plaintiffs' registered copyrights" and asserts that ChatGPT functions as a "massive commercial enterprise" built on unauthorized ingestion of copyrighted books.
Court filings cite instances where ChatGPT generated an "infringing, unauthorised, and detailed outline for a prequel" to Game of Thrones titled A Dawn of Direwolves, allegedly using figures such as Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister in a structure resembling Martin's narrative style. A U.S. District Judge recently refused OpenAI's attempt to dismiss the case, allowing claims to proceed.
Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild, warned of far-reaching consequences, stating, "It is imperative that we stop this theft in its tracks or we will destroy our incredible literary culture... Authors must have the ability to control if and how their works are used by generative AI."
Even as the legal battle unfolds, attention remains fixed on the status of The Winds of Winter. Martin previously described shifting chapters from A Dance with Dragons to the sixth book as "good news" and reported completing 100 pages by mid-2010. With a manuscript expected to exceed 1,500 pages, the process stalled as he devoted time to revising earlier chapters. Martin has acknowledged "re-reading some chapters... ripped them apart and rewrote them," prolonging development.
Fan speculation surged again last year after Martin met with editors in London, but he cautioned readers not to overinterpret the gathering, writing that it did not "signify that some momentous announcement is at hand." He added that "the word will not trickle out, there WILL be a big announcement...where and when I cannot say."
The conversation shifted again in late 2025 when Martin addressed AI in relation to his creative process. He wrote, "[You] can't outlaw new technology. You can try, people have tried throughout history, but it's here to stay." But he also drew a firm boundary, declaring, "No computer will ever write The Winds of Winter," a statement he said "serves as a clear indicator that the human writing process is still incomplete."
