AI and Ethics in the Book Industry

Join Us for a Discussion on How Publishing Can Navigate the Ethics of Tomorrow

Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon—it’s in your inbox, your workflows, and your metadata. But as AI tools reshape publishing from editorial to marketing, the stakes for ethics, transparency, and trust have never been higher.

In this can’t-miss session, we’ll cut through the hype to tackle the urgent question: How can publishing embrace AI’s potential without sacrificing creative integrity, reader trust, or control over the work we produce?

Through practical, real-world guidance, you’ll learn how to:

• Apply ethical frameworks tailored to publishing
• Communicate transparently with readers, authors, and partners
• Identify and mitigate bias in AI-driven processes
• Assess risks before they become liabilities
• Keep creative vision and human judgment at the center of AI-enabled workflows

Expect 40-minutes of an insight-packed presentation and discussion, followed by 15-minutes of live Q&A to address your toughest questions.

If you’re making decisions about AI—or if AI is already making decisions for you—this is the conversation you need right now. Join us to move forward with clarity, confidence, and a publishing-first approach to AI ethics.

Featured Speakers

ALAYNA KENNEDY is a pioneering AI governance researcher and strategic advisor who transforms complex ethical frameworks into actionable business strategies that drive innovation while ensuring responsibility.

As an AI Governance Researcher at Mastercard, she leads initiatives that operationalize responsible AI practices across global financial systems, directly impacting millions of users worldwide. Her unique approach bridges technical implementation and policy development, creating governance frameworks that balance innovation with accountability.

With a proven track record spanning Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and cutting-edge startups, she has successfully launched enterprise-wide AI ethics programs, secured significant funding for governance initiatives, and published influential research that shapes industry standards.

She holds a master's degree in Science and Technology in Society from the University of Edinburgh and a bachelor's in Engineering Science from Penn State University. Beyond her corporate work, she writes about technology's societal impact on her Substack, Cruel Miracles.

GEORGE WALKLEY is an independent consultant and non-executive director based in the United Kingdom. As a consultant, George has worked with more than forty organizations, including clients in the media and publishing, professional services, education and non-profit sectors. He is a leading expert on the impact of artificial intelligence on media and publishing. Working with the IPG, a leading publishing trade association, George developed and delivered the world’s first independent, award-winning, CPD-accredited training course on generative AI designed specifically for publishers. The course has now been delivered to delegates from more than 250 organizations around the world. He has spoken on AI at a range of conferences, corporate events and universities. 

George currently serves as non-executive chair of the communications group Midas (including Midas Public Relations and The Bks Literary Agency) and is a non-executive director of Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. His early career was spent in bookselling and publishing, notably fifteen years at the Hachette UK group, where he held senior executive roles in marketing, digital development and strategy. George earned his MBA at Bayes Business School and is a 2012 alumnus of the Yale Publishing Course. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Liveryman of the Stationers Company.

AI and the Book Publishing Industry Series

BISG's AI and the Book Publishing Industry webinar series brings together publishing professionals and industry leaders to explore the transformative impact AI is having on everything from editorial workflows to marketing strategies. Whether you're a publisher looking to integrate AI tools into your processes, an author curious about how technology can enhance your writing journey, or a thought leader striving to stay ahead of industry trends, this is an unmissable series.

Fall 2025 Sessions

• September 30: AI and Ethics in the Book Industry
• October 28: AI & Translation: A Deeper Look
• November 18: Where AI and the Book Publishing Supply Chain Meet
• December 18: AI & Scholarly Publishing: What Publishers Can Learn from Each Other