BISG and BookNet Canada Release Their 2026 AI-Use Report

How is the North American book industry using AI in 2026? More often inside organizations, and less often as a personal habit. On September 28, 2026, the Book Industry Study Group and BookNet Canada released AI Use Across the North American Book Industry 2026, their second annual report. BISG's announcement, posted by Liz Bartek, draws on 771 responses from U.S. and Canadian publishing professionals and organizations. The study is on the BISG Knowledge Center. BookNet Canada hosts the same report on its research page.

Organizational use rose; individual use fell

In 2026, 63% of respondents said their organization is using AI, up from 48% in 2025. Individual use moved the other way, from 46% to 38%. Size still separates the answers: 88% of organizations with more than 100 employees reported using AI.

The most common organizational approach is to encourage AI within controlled workflows or for specific tasks. 49% of respondents said their organization now has an official AI policy or guidelines, up from 31% in 2025.

BISG Executive Director Allison Belan said the conversation around AI in publishing is becoming more nuanced and pragmatic: organizations are looking at where the tools provide value, with more emphasis on policies, controlled workflows, and risk management, and the results show where more guidance is needed.

Where the tools are used

For both individuals and organizations, the most common applications are administrative and operational tasks and marketing. Research, data analysis and reporting, and metadata and title optimization follow those. Among professionals already using AI, 72% said it increased their efficiency or productivity. The announcement also notes time spent correcting inaccurate results, refining prompts, reviewing outputs, or learning how to use the technology safely.

Concerns that stayed high

Greater organizational adoption has not lowered concern. Copyright remains a leading issue, cited by 86% of respondents. Concerns about impacts on creators, environmental sustainability, legal liability, security, and publishing career pathways also remain significant or have increased since 2025.

89% of respondents expressed concern about the accuracy of AI-generated information. The same share, 89%, were concerned about AI-generated books, including fraudulent or low-quality content, flooding major retail platforms. Concern was also high about protecting authors and creators, disclosure to consumers, and the ability to distinguish AI-generated, AI-assisted, and human-created work.

The October 20 webinar

On Tuesday, October 20, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EDT, BISG and BookNet Canada will discuss the findings in a webinar titled "AI in Publishing 2026: What the Data Tells Us." Allison Belan and BookNet Canada President and CEO Lauren Stewart will cover what has changed since the inaugural survey: where AI is being used, how approaches differ by organization size, and how policies and governance are evolving.

The announcement closes on the report's own line. The question is not simply whether to adopt or reject AI. The challenge is to approach these technologies intentionally, set clear expectations for their use, and keep potential efficiencies from coming at the expense of the creative, professional, ethical, and cultural values that make publishing meaningful.

Why it matters for authors

The 771 responses come from publishing professionals and organizations, so the percentages describe the companies around a book. Organizational use is up from 2025, policies are more common, and the named jobs include marketing, metadata, and title work. Copyright (86%), accuracy of AI-generated information (89%), and AI-generated books, including fraudulent or low-quality ones, on major retail platforms (89%) are still the high concerns on the page. The survey does not rewrite a contract. It tells an author which workflows the trade is already running, and which risks those respondents have not dropped. Belan and Stewart walk through the comparison on October 20.

Sources

• Book Industry Study Group: BISG and BookNet Canada Release 2026 Report on AI Use Across the North American Book Industry (September 28, 2026, Liz Bartek)
• BISG Knowledge Center: AI Use Across the North American Book Industry 2026
• BookNet Canada: AI use across the North American book industry 2026