Seven Ways AI Will Impact Authors And The Publishing Industry

Peter H. Gregory, Senior Director, Cyber GRC at GCI Communications. Author of over 50 books, including The Art of Writing Technical Books.

For better or worse, artificial intelligence is poised to shake up the publishing industry. As a technologist who has authored over 50 books, I've been keen on its evolution in that space. From assisting in research to streamlining content creation and distribution, AI offers promising avenues for increased productivity and efficiency.

However, it also raises concerns about the preservation of human voice and original thought. In fact, with the increase in AI in content creation, we'll soon see the pendulum swing the other way: Works may be labeled as "Non-AI," just like we see "Non-GMO" in many food products. If you're a thought leader looking to publish a book, you may be wondering how to leverage AI while avoiding its pitfalls.

To help, I turn to the members of Forbes Technology Council Book Authors, an online community I lead, to share their forecast of how AI is set to impact the publishing industry.

1. Assisted Research

It's clear that generative AI tools like ChatGPT will have a significant impact on publishing. It won't replace authors but rather make them more productive with aggregated research and synthesized content that can be tweaked to resemble the voice of the author. Of course, the risks associated with AI will introduce new fact-checking and authenticity processes. However, the benefits will outweigh the risks. - Mike Walker, Microsoft

2. AI-Powered Editing

Artificial intelligence is excellent at editing. I can see top authors leveraging AI to get their work output more efficiently and effectively with AI by reducing the time needed to edit their original creations. Unfortunately, I also believe we will see the rise of a lot of junk authors who can now quickly create mediocre work. - Rashmi Rao, RCubed Ventures

3. Increased Need For Real Thought Leadership

There are a wealth of books that contain information, but a much smaller number actually contain wisdom. AI is great for processing and summarising information, but there will be an increasing need for authors who can share wisdom and with an authoritative voice. The combination of information and experience is the hallmark of real thought leadership. - Thomas Kranz, Thomas Kranz Consulting

4. Streamlined Content Creation, Distribution And Consumption

AI will impact authors by streamlining content creation, distribution, and consumption. While this may increase efficiency, it also poses a risk of diminishing the uniqueness of the human voice and original thought. Authors can leverage this trend by incorporating AI tools to enhance their work while keeping their own voices and perspectives. - Miguel Llorca, Torrent Group

5. Automated Text Analysis, Formatting And Translation

Certain laborious manual functions such as automated text analysis, formatting, personalization and translations can be automated. This allows authors to focus on their research and content. Publishing agencies can use AI to recommend better topics for authors based on its quick and wide capability to parse consumer needs. - Kiran Palla, AVS Academy

6. Greater Emphasis On Having A 'Voice'

It will put a greater emphasis on having a "voice." AI is excellent at putting together cogent, but ultimately lifeless, writing. Authors who have good ideas and execution but lack the human touch will be most impacted by AI-generated writing. As a writer, you should always focus not just on your argument, but what you—the human behind it—bring to the process. - Lewis Wynne-Jones, ThinkData Works

7. Increased Risk For Dependence On AI Tools

AI can impact the publishing industry by changing how books are written and distributed. AI-powered writing assistants like Chat GPT and tools can increase the number of books published and personalize content. However, this trend may lead to more competition for readers' attention, and AI-generated content may lose originality and creativity as authors begin to rely too heavily on AI tools. - Cristian Randieri, Intellisystem Technologies

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