A new survey reveals the US and Canadian book publishing industry is hesitant to fully embrace AI, citing copyright issues and unclear policies, even as some organisations integrate it into daily operations.
A new survey of 559 book publishing professionals in the US and Canada suggests the industry is still deeply divided over how artificial intelligence should be used, even as some organisations begin to build it into everyday work. The report, produced by the Book Industry Study Group and BookNet Canada, found that fewer than half of respondents said they personally used AI, while a similar share said their organisation did so.
The clearest uses were in administrative and operational work, marketing, and data analysis, with organisations slightly ahead of individuals in the first two categories. But the report also makes plain that adoption is uneven and far from settled. According to the findings, many respondents remain wary of how AI tools are trained and deployed, especially when copyright is involved.
That concern dominated the survey. More than four-fifths of respondents said inadequate controls over copyrighted material were a major issue, and the worry was even stronger among publisher employees than among library staff. Library workers were most alarmed by the prospect of AI-generated books, especially low-quality or fraudulent titles overwhelming retail platforms, while concerns about weak disclosure to consumers were also particularly pronounced in libraries.
The study also points to a gap between individual curiosity and organisational readiness. More than half of respondents saw AI training as a worthwhile use of time, but only a minority said their organisation had an official AI policy. A further share said policies were still being developed, underscoring how many firms are still trying to decide what responsible use looks like in practice.
BookNet Canada and BISG say the aim of the report is to help the industry shape policies that fit publishing values, and the wider BISG working group has been pressing questions of governance, rights management and best practice since launching in 2023. The report’s broader message is that AI is already in use across parts of the book trade, but confidence in its ethical and practical limits remains shaky.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article was published on April 30, 2026, and references a report released on April 28, 2026, indicating high freshness. ([bisg.org](https://www.bisg.org/news/bisg-and-booknet-canada-release-new-white-paper-on-ai-in-the-book-industry?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from the report, which are consistent with the original source. ([bisg.org](https://www.bisg.org/news/bisg-and-booknet-canada-release-new-white-paper-on-ai-in-the-book-industry?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The article is from Publishers Weekly, a reputable industry publication, and cites the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) and BookNet Canada, both established organizations in the book industry. ([bisg.org](https://www.bisg.org/news/bisg-and-booknet-canada-release-new-white-paper-on-ai-in-the-book-industry?utm_source=openai))
Plausibility check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about AI adoption and concerns in the book industry align with known industry trends and are supported by the referenced report. ([bisg.org](https://www.bisg.org/news/bisg-and-booknet-canada-release-new-white-paper-on-ai-in-the-book-industry?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article is a timely and accurate summary of a recent report on AI adoption in the book industry, with all claims supported by reputable sources and accessible for independent verification.
