It's the fastest-moving skills gap we've seen. We look at why AI literacy matters for publishing careers, and how to build it without the hype.
A new line in almost every brief
Eighteen months ago, we rarely heard AI mentioned in a hiring brief. Now it comes up in most conversations we have with publishing employers, whether they're hiring for editorial, production, marketing, or rights. Not because every role now requires coding skills, but because AI tools are quietly reshaping how publishing work gets done.
Why this matters beyond the hype
AI is already touching metadata generation, first-pass copyediting, translation, content discovery, and audience insight. Professionals who understand what these tools can and can't do, and where human judgement still matters most, are the ones employers see as future-proof. Those who avoid the topic entirely risk looking out of step.
What 'AI literate' actually means for publishing professionals
It doesn't mean being an expert user of every tool on the market. It means understanding, broadly how AI is being used in your part of the publishing process, being able to spot where it adds genuine value versus where it introduces risk, particularly around accuracy, rights, and originality, and being confident enough to ask informed questions about it.
Building this skill without falling behind
We'd suggest starting with your own organisation: ask how AI is already being used in your team, even informally. Read one or two trusted industry sources on AI in publishing rather than general hype pieces. And experiment cautiously with tools relevant to your own role, so you can speak from experience rather than assumption.
How we can help
We're seeing which AI-related skills are genuinely valued by publishing employers, and which are simply buzzwords. If you want an honest steer on either side of that conversation, we're here for it.