July 31, 2025

Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore AI, by George Walkley

Spend any time in publishing circles and you’ll hear a familiar refrain: “I’m not really using AI yet.” Often it’s said with a hint of apology, sometimes with pride.

But whether you’re a tech-savvy early adopter, a cautious traditionalist, or a confirmed sceptic, the reality is this: artificial intelligence—especially generative AI—is becoming embedded across the writing, publishing and reading landscape. Some of the largest publishers in the world are rolling out AI tools across their teams, while some of the smallest and most agile are using them to compete more effectively with their larger peers.

AI is also being integrated into the everyday tools we already rely on. Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace now include Copilot and Gemini by default. Adobe’s Firefly model is becoming part of standard workflows in InDesign and Photoshop. Even industry-specific software applications such as Biblio are adding AI features. The shift is no longer theoretical or optional—it is happening by default.

And yet many publishing professionals still feel stuck. Some are wary of legal or copyright questions; others are concerned about the impact on their roles. Many feel they simply lack the time to get to grips with a topic that appears both fast-moving and complex. The good news is that you don’t need to become an expert in AI—but you do need to understand enough to remain informed and to future-proof your skillset.

Even If You Don’t Use AI, You Still Need to Understand It

Understanding AI doesn’t mean chasing every new tool or trend. But it does mean developing a realistic sense of what the technology can and cannot do—and how rapidly it is evolving. It means being able to ask informed, pragmatic questions when a supplier offers an AI-powered solution. It means knowing what a language model is, and why copyright, attribution and data provenance are critical issues. It means recognising when a colleague is using AI well—and when they are not.

Think of it like the emergence of another transformative technology: the Internet. Initially the preserve of specialists, it is now a foundational part of almost every professional role. Even if you don’t know the technical details of web hosting or e-commerce infrastructure, you understand their implications and importance for publishing books. AI is following a similar trajectory. You don’t need to build the engine—but you do need to be able to drive the car.

In AI, Skill Development Comes Through Practice

Publishing as a sector rightly values structure and documentation—style guides, process maps, technical schemas and critical paths. But with generative AI, the landscape is changing too quickly for static documentation to keep pace. That may feel disconcerting—but it is also liberating. Because it means that the best way to learn is through practice.

This is a field in which experimentation is expertise. Structured learning—such as the course I lead for the Independent Publishers Guild—can provide an excellent foundation. But what matters over time is whether you have spent hands-on time with the tools: exploring what they can do, understanding where they fail, and learning how to improve your results. That is how you develop good instincts and confidence.

The barrier to entry is low. Most leading tools—OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini and others—are free, or offer freemium access. They run in your browser, with no installation required. Just try a prompt—typed or spoken—and see where it takes you. You’ll be surprised how quickly you learn.

Naturally, caution is still required. Avoid entering confidential or copyright-protected content into free models. Don’t assume that AI outputs are factually accurate or free from bias. Be mindful of legal, ethical and privacy considerations. Follow your organisation’s AI guidelines—and if they don’t yet exist, consider offering to help create them. But don’t allow uncertainty to deter you from engaging. A few minutes of practical exploration will teach you more than hours of passive reading.

No One Has a Decade of Experience—And That’s Your Advantage

One important point that is often overlooked: this is new to everyone. No one has more than a few years’ experience using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in a professional setting. This is not a mature discipline with established hierarchies and gatekeepers. It is still an open frontier. And that means the playing field is unusually level—you can catch up quickly.

You don’t need to know everything. But a habit of small, regular experiments will help you build a practical working knowledge. You’ll develop an instinct for evaluating new tools. You’ll be better placed to spot both risks and opportunities. And you’ll be able to participate in the conversations already reshaping strategy, staffing and operations across the sector.

This is particularly relevant if you are moving roles or stepping into leadership. AI has become a boardroom-level issue. Recruiters and hiring managers increasingly ask: Have you used these tools? Do you understand the implications? Can you help us adapt? Even a modest amount of hands-on experience can turn a vague answer into a confident one.

Investing in Your Own Future

There is no shortage of noise around AI. Some of it is breathless hype; some of it is undue alarm. But behind the polarised headlines, something more important is taking place: a structural transformation in how we produce, distribute and consume knowledge. For an industry built on language and ideas, that’s not peripheral—it is fundamental.

If you care about your future in publishing—whatever your specialism—it is worth investing a little time now in understanding this shift. You don’t need to be first. You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be curious—and proactive.

If you’re looking for a starting point, I write a free weekly newsletter that distils the latest developments in AI for publishing professionals. It offers practical insight, clear summaries, and minimal jargon—just enough to help you stay current. You can subscribe at: www.georgewalkley.com/newsletter

The future of publishing will be shaped by those who learn to work with AI—not instead of it, or in spite of it. That future is arriving quickly. Now is the time to begin.