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How AI is Changing the Publishing Industry
The robots are coming…
And the publishing industry is welcoming them.
With its dramatic development over the past two years, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping everything from writing and editing to marketing and intellectual property rights.
As authors and experts, you are the ones who will decide whether AI is a replacement to be feared or a tool to be mastered.
One thing is for sure though: AI is not a far-off fantasy.
That’s why I recently hosted some of the leading experts with experience in both authoring and publishing technologies: Thad Mcllroy, Elizabeth Ann West, and Jason Hamilton to discuss AI’s role in publishing and how you should navigate this important industry transformation.
The Current Landscape: Where Are We With AI in Publishing?
Is AI a disruptive innovation or a passing fad?
As Thad McIlroy, publishing analyst and author of The AI Revolution in Book Publishing, put it: “They're still asleep at the wheel, and the car is moving very rapidly down the freeway.”
While some major publishers remain skeptical, independent authors and small presses are already leveraging AI to increase productivity and expand creative possibilities.
For example, our live poll during the live panel showed an even split between attendees actively using AI and those still exploring.
The Big Five Ways AI Is Disrupting the Publishing Industry
Writing and Creative Process
Elizabeth Ann West, bestselling author and founder of Future Fiction Academy, emphasized that “AI's biggest threat is not to publishers—but to authors who ignore it.”
“Society needs authors using AI, not publishers,” she said. “With the right fine-tuning and prompting, AI can now generate publishable fiction that “makes you laugh, makes you cry.”
Jason Hamilton, author and founder of The Nerdy Novelist, encouraged creators to think bigger: “This isn’t about how to publish more books. Everybody can do that now. It’s about how we can do things that were never possible before.”
Editing and Productivity
If you need a burden lifted off your shoulders, AI is a useful tool to decrease stress and enhance workflow.
By using fine-tuning, you can draft entire scenes or chapters, suggest structural edits, or mimic your own writing style with surprising accuracy.
Marketing and Book Descriptions
If marketing seems like the bane of your existence, you’re not alone.
AI is changing that.
Hamilton shared his method for generating high-quality book descriptions: “Find a top indie in your genre, break down their blurb sentence-by-sentence with AI, then build a template. Feed in your synopsis, and you're already in the top 10%.”
Legal & Ethical Considerations
There’s still a lot of confusion and concern about copyright. However, it’s helpful to note that risks are more about misinformation than infringement.
West broke it down: “You can't copyright AI-generated words—but you can copyright the selection and arrangement.”
Think of it like fanfiction, where the author’s original additions are protected.
Thad McIlroy added, “The Copyright Office is misinterpreting the technology. What they're declaring is not realistic in this particular age of AI generation.”
Industry Dynamics and Market Saturation
AI is resulting in thousands of new books being published, but is the quality there yet?
AI is only as valuable as the person controlling it. Authors with a distinctive voice, a personal brand, and a strategy will prevail over the “AI slop” every time.
And if you’re a fan of niche genres, you’re in luck! If new technologies halve a book’s creation time, serving a smaller audience will be worth the hassle.
What Most Authors Miss
AI shouldn’t be treated like a magic button.
Don’t fall into that trap.
Instead, West emphasizes integrity and diligence: “You want a tool that gives you control, not one that does it for you.”
How to Start Using AI (the Smart Way)
- Identify your biggest pain point (book descriptions, editing, plotting)
- Use AI as a creative partner, not a replacement
- Start with free resources like:
And above all: practice. The future of publishing is powered by AI.
Success won't come from blind adoption or rejection. It will come from authors who are willing to learn, adapt, and keep their creative integrity front and center.
I can’t wait to see what you create next!
What most surprised you, or what do you still want to know? Let us know your thoughts below!
About Tina Dietz:
Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and vocal leadership expert whose work and shows have been featured on media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune, Inc.com, and Forbes. She’s been named one of the top podcasters for entrepreneurs by INC.com, and Tina’s company, Twin Flames Studios, re-imagines thought leadership through podcasting and audiobooks for experts, executives, and founders.
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