Exclusive: JK Rowling does it. As did Anne Rice and Mark Twain.

You may not realise it, but Dr Seuss did it too.

The historic practice of writing under a pseudonym, pen name or nom-de-plume may be dying a slow death – thanks, in part, to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in publishing.

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Research by Cambridge University this week found 51 per cent of published novelists in the UK are worried AI might end up making their jobs redundant.

There are already terabytes of AI slop masquerading as books being peddled on the internet – but Queensland fantasy author Darryl King isn't worried these will destroy his career.

King, who publishes his In All Jest series under the name D.E. King, told nine.com.au there could be very different consequences of ChatGPT's influence on the book industry.

"I think all authors are struggling to find ways to market themselves and to stand out now already without AI," King explained.

"It's a bit like music where as authors, we have to go and do more signings and appearances at libraries to validate we're real."

Recent studies have found book readers value the human element more than ever when it comes to fiction.

King said this has translated into book buyers wanting to know the author more intimately.

This means no fake name and no shadowy anonymous figure, instead of a real-life author headshot.

It could impact romance writers, who typically use pen names to preserve anonymity from their real-life acquaintances, the most.

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at Google Play.