Big Five Publishers Use AI Behind Closed Doors

Internal reports indicate that major US publishers HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette are using generative AI for editorial and marketing tasks despite public anti-AI stances. Employees report LLMs being used to draft back-cover copy, design covers, and write rejection emails, often without author consent. Staff resistance has grown due to concerns over data privacy, ethical implications, and increased workloads following layoffs. The company spokespeople maintain that AI is for operational support only, but worker accounts suggest widespread integration into core creative processes.