Ramblings and Reflections

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  • AI and Publishing: Ethics and Opportunities by IBPA Independent

  • The IBPA winter magazine issue broached the topic of AI in publishing. A controversial polarizing topic that should not be ignored. Publishers and some authors have embraced AI. If for no other reason than understand the competition, I encourage all writers to research AI in publishing.

  • Writing is a creative process. What sets any artwork apart is the passion and experience behind the creation. How will AI affect writing?

  • First, it’s important to remember that AI is a tool. The user decides how to wield that tool. AI will only limit the writing process if the writer allows. In writing authors maintain control.

  • A few of those resources include ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. Are ProWritingAid and Grammerly considered AI? Who sets the rules?

  • Courts will decide some of those issues. It may take years for definitive legal parameters. In the meantime, publishers, authors, and the public will decide. Currently, people cannot copyright AI work. Fair use is a major issue for the courts to decide. It will determine whether AI companies must compensate writers and other artists.
  • KDP requires authors to signify whether their work contains AI. Since ChatGPT and other AI products hit the markets in 2022, there has been a plethora of AI generated writings on Amazon. These additions alter author analytics. Amazon uses algorithms to determine author rankings, views, and promotions. How these AI-generated products compete against non-AI literary works will impact author incomes.

  • Publishers are using AI for marketing and production. Consultants report increased productivity with AI. Create a marketing plan with ChatGPT. Book trailers via Photoshop. Summarize a manuscript with Claude by Anthropic. Veristage’s Insight creates marketing ads. Traditionally published authors complain about the limited marketing from their publishers. With AI publishers, large and small, can offer those resources.

  • “We’ve also come out with an AI product that helps authors and publishers write book blurbs and choose the correct Amazon categories and metadata for their books."

  • An independent publisher and behavioral finance expert created Storywise, an AI-powered tool for authors and publishers. I viewed the site but have not tried it. Through Microsoft’s Copilot, I created a marketing plan. The plan generated included nothing unexpected. For a beginning author though, it would prove beneficial.
  • So, will AI replace publishing jobs? Yes. To what extent is unknown. AI-generated writing can replace authors only if readers decide they prefer that content. Hopefully, originality will triumph over machine.

  • Each writer—artist—must weight the benefits. As a self-published author with a full-time job, I have little time or expertise in marketing. I could pay a publicist or invest in an AI marketing tool. This month, I enrolled in Gemini Advance and will share my experiences going forward. Before deciding educate yourself. Understand AI. Because whether you use it others are. And they are competing for readers.