WIRED: At least three of the five largest US publishing houses use artificial intelligence

A WIRED report describes AI tools entering the workflows of at least three of the five largest US publishers: HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette.

Reported uses range from promotional and back-cover copy to cover concepts and marketing materials.

More than two dozen employees spoke anonymously, citing concern about their jobs.

The publishers also draw different lines around operational, creative and author-facing uses.

How the tools are used

Employees said HarperCollins has purchased licenses for Claude, ChatGPT and Jasper. At least one part of the company is using AI tools for video ads.

Employees at all three publishing houses described using such tools for book pitching. Agents also suspected that some editors were using AI to write rejection letters to authors. Employees at all three companies told WIRED that they believe the suspicions are valid.

The employees argued that the well-known cases of books canceled due to suspected use of artificial intelligence are only a small part of the related incidents. These include Hachette's Shy Girl and Macmillan's Call Me, I'll Hide the Body.

The companies described their policies differently. Hachette said it supports the use of AI tools for operational tasks, when they help books reach more readers. It said it does not support their use for creative tasks or to communicate with authors and collaborators.

Simon & Schuster said its employees have access to a limited number of approved tools, but are not required to use them. HarperCollins did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.

Worry about manuscripts and jobs

Literary agents fear that unpublished manuscripts could be given to artificial intelligence tools. Some have added terms to contracts prohibiting such use.

A source at HarperCollins said the company's legal team has asked editors not to run entire manuscripts through artificial intelligence tools that do not operate in a closed environment.

Employees at large publishing houses linked the reluctant use of these tools to layoffs and increased workload.

Simon & Schuster is piloting Blueprint, a tool from Skan AI. In an Oct. 6 note, CEO Greg Greeley said no decision has been made about using Blueprint or any similar tool.

Simon & Schuster employees launched an open letter to Greeley, asking him to commit that Blueprint or similar software will not be integrated into the company's processes.

Read the original English article on Hacks.gr