ALLi News Editor, Dan Holloway
Audio UK is a trade body for UK producers of audiobooks and podcasts. It seeks to create a better environment for content producers, especially small creators, to thrive. The organization's particular concern is finding ways to help UK-based audio content producers participate in the wider global market. One way they want to do this is by increasing access to training in the skills necessary to produce high-quality content.
Their first priority, however, is the creation of a more conducive tax regime, including tax relief for companies investing in creatives in the UK, similar to those offered to screen companies. Like many industry bodies across all sectors, they see the arrival of a new government as an opportunity to gain an audience and build momentum.
To that end, they have launched a short survey aimed at all creators of podcasts and audiobooks, which will provide the information they need to make the best case possible, demonstrating the size and potential of the sector. If you are part of that cohort and interested in improving the conditions for the audio industry, please take part in the survey.
The AI Revolution in Book Publishing, by Thad McIlroy.
I will close out the week with a really insightful piece of reporting on one of the more high-profile controversies of the past week. Thad McIlroy is a prominent figure in the publishing world. He blogs at The Future of Publishing and contributes to Publishers Weekly. He’s also written extensively on the future of publishing. Recently, his book on AI in publishing was removed from Ingram’s distribution after the company flagged it, presumably as a breach of its no-AI rules .
The point Williams makes is twofold. First, that a company with a no-AI policy using AI to flag content is eyebrow-raising (though, of course, it does illustrate the distinction between generative AI and AI as an after-the-fact tool). Second, he draws attention to something I’ve regularly found frustrating. This is a high-profile author, so his complaint has received high-profile and possibly fast-track responses. It’s great when high-profile authors raise issues. However, it’s frustrating when companies only respond when a prominent figure goes after them.
You can read McIlroy’s own account. In it, he explains that he did use ChatGPT for specific tasks such as alt text for images.
