Big Five Publishers Adopt AI Tools for Marketing and Rejections
Wired reports that Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster are using AI tools internally, following employee objections to Simon & Schuster's possible adoption of Skan AI. Executives support the tools while some staff are unhappy. Agents told Wired that editors appear to be using large language models to draft rejection emails, pointing to repeated AI-style phrasing.
Wired reported that Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster have adopted AI tools for internal work, including marketing copy. The adoption follows staff objections to Simon & Schuster’s consideration of Skan AI’s productivity products. Executives back the technology, while some employees remain unhappy.
Agents told Wired that editors seem to rely on large language models when composing rejection notes. They compared messages from the same editors across different books and found recurring stylistic markers, such as contrastive constructions and three-part lists.
The shift could affect authors, editors, agents, and publishing staff. Writers may receive rejection notes that feel less personal, potentially straining trust in editorial feedback. Employees who object to AI may face morale or workplace tensions, while marketing copy shaped by these tools may influence how readers encounter books. The long-term effect on publishing culture remains uncertain, and outcomes may depend on transparency, oversight, and how companies balance efficiency with human judgment.