AI in Publishing: What Authors Need to Know About Copyright, Contracts, and Control

When conversations about artificial intelligence started to ripple through publishing circles, I wasn’t surprised. Change is constant in this industry.

What did surprise me was how quickly it moved from theory to reality. Within a year, AI has gone from a buzzword in think pieces to a clause in publishing contracts. And as a literary agent, someone whose entire job revolves around intellectual property and protecting creative rights, I’ve been watching closely. Because while AI can sound abstract or futuristic, it’s already reshaping the business of books right now.

This isn’t a “how to use AI” post. It’s not encouragement. It’s an overview of where things stand, what the law currently says, how publishers are responding, and what it all means for authors.

What Publishers Are Actually Doing With AI

There’s a lot of fear surrounding AI in publishing—some warranted, some not. The truth is that most traditional publishers are not using AI to write or edit manuscripts. Instead, they’re using it for background operations and analytics. But time will tell if that will change.

According to FT Strategies (2024), some publishing houses have begun experimenting with generative AI for things like translation, audiobook narration, and rights management. HarperCollins, for example, has used AI tools to create audiobooks at scale, while Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning is exploring AI-assisted translation to help bring books to new markets.

Meanwhile, the same report cites a survey from the UK’s Society of Authors where 36% of book translators and 26% of illustrators said they’ve already lost work to AI. That statistic alone underscores just how quickly these shifts are reshaping creative labor in publishing.

On the other hand, PublishDrive (2024) reports that AI is being used for marketing optimization, metadata management, and inventory decisions—essentially, administrative efficiencies rather than creative replacements.

So while AI isn’t yet writing novels for major publishers, it’s quietly becoming part of the publishing machine in ways that affect everyone.

Still, those steps have opened bigger conversations about authorship, copyright, and control.

Why AI in Publishing Raises Legal Red Flags

Here’s where things get serious—and why every author should care. As of November 2025, the U.S. Copyright Office has made its position clear: AI-generated content cannot be copyrighted. If a piece of text, image, or artwork was created primarily by AI without meaningful human involvement, it is not eligible for copyright protection.

That ruling has enormous implications for authors. Copyright is what gives you the right to sell, license, and profit from your work. It’s what allows agents and lawyers to negotiate deals and protect your intellectual property.

If your manuscript or illustrations were produced by AI, you might not legally own them. That means:

• You may not hold the rights required to sell them to a publisher.

• You may not be able to prevent others from reproducing or distributing them.

• You could lose control of your work entirely.

If you’re self-publishing, this matters too. Without clear copyright, platforms could deny publication or remove your book later if ownership is challenged. Before you use any AI tool, think about what you might be giving up.

All that said, these laws have not been tested thoroughly in the courts yet, so there is a lot of uncertainty for how things will shake out.

The Rise of “No AI” Clauses in Publishing Contracts

One of the most visible shifts I’ve seen in the last year is the emergence of AI clauses in publishing contracts.

In practice, these clauses often include three key parts:

• Publishers agree not to use AI to alter, generate, or reproduce an author’s work without the author’s knowledge or consent.

• Authors confirm that their submitted manuscript was created by a human.

• Both parties acknowledge that some platforms (like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Outlook) have built-in AI features that can’t be fully disabled, and those are exempt.

So far, I’ve only had one publisher push back on adding a “no AI” clause. Most are open to it, because it protects both sides. Still, the language isn’t standardized. Some publishers are taking a proactive approach, while others are waiting to see how the legal landscape evolves. If you’re an author reviewing a contract, make sure to discuss this with your agent or attorney before signing.

Note: if a literary agent or publisher is asking if you used AI, they are asking if your words are AI generated. Using something like Grammarly is not the same as using AI to write for you.

Why This Isn’t About Fear—It’s About Awareness

AI is a copyright issue, a contract issue, and ultimately, a career issue. You don’t need to panic, but you do need to stay informed.

Here’s what I see happening right now:

• Some authors are unknowingly jeopardizing their intellectual property by incorporating AI-generated text or images into their projects.

• Some publishers are experimenting with AI integrations in book production.

• Legal teams within publishing houses are still trying to anticipate how court rulings will shape future contract language.

As Publishers Weekly recently noted, even legal experts disagree on where to draw the line. The key is not to make assumptions. Ask questions, know your comfort level, and stay aware of what’s changing.

Questions Every Author Should Be Asking Right Now

1. Does my publisher have an AI policy?

2. Am I using AI in a way that could compromise copyright?

3. Does my contract include a “no AI” clause? If not, request one that specifies no AI use without your knowledge or consent.

4. What is my comfort level? Decide early whether you’re comfortable with publishers using AI-assisted tools for marketing or metadata. Everyone’s threshold will be different.

TLDR: Protect Your Work

There’s still a lot we don’t know about where AI and publishing will go next. Laws will continue to evolve, and so will technology.

But some things are already clear. Copyright belongs to humans. Authors deserve transparency. And ownership begins with understanding what you’re agreeing to.

So before you use any new tool or sign any new contract, take a moment to ask: How does this affect my rights? Because once you give those rights away, you may never get them back.