Book Publishers Are Quietly Using More AI. Staff Are Revolting

· Business

Book Publishers Are Quietly Using More AI. Staff Are Revolting

Three major US book publishers are using AI to write publicity copy, design covers, and email literary agents.

At least three of the Big Five US book publishers — HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette — have been quietly incorporating AI tools into their publishing processes without public disclosures or author consent, according to interviews with more than two dozen anonymous workers. Publishers are using LLMs like Claude and ChatGPT for emailing literary agents, writing publicity and back-cover copy, designing cover art, and generating marketing materials.

HarperCollins purchased Claude licenses from Anthropic and designated dozens of staff as "AI Champions" to discover use cases in monthly brainstorming sessions. When employees raised concerns about legal, ethical, and environmental impacts, a meeting leader dismissed them as "the cost of doing business." Staff expressed frustration that AI software purchases took priority over salary increases.

The most common use case across the three publishers is generating publicity copy, which readers encounter on Amazon, Goodreads, and book covers. Literary agents have reported suspecting Big Five editors of using AI to write rejection letters, with telltale signs like repetitive phrasing and formulaic structure. Employees at Simon & Schuster, HarperCollics, and Hachette believe these suspicions are correct.

Publisher responses vary in their disclosures. Hachette said it supports AI for operational purposes to help books reach readers but prohibits creative uses including author communication. Simon & Schuster stated employees have access to limited vetted tools and use is not mandatory. HarperCollins did not respond to requests for comment.

The gap between publishers' public anti-AI stance and their quiet adoption highlights broader tensions in the industry. A Big Five publicist warned that AI-generated publicity is short-sighted and violates duties to engage in good faith with readers and media. Independent publishers like Hub City Press see corporate efficiency drives diverging from smaller houses that emphasize human involvement.

Big Five publishers are quietly deploying AI for marketing and editorial tasks while publicly opposing generative AI, fueling staff backlash.

Source: WIRED

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