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Wired: HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Quietly Use Claude, ChatGPT and Jasper for Back-Cover Copy and Pitches

By Alexis Dufresne Published October 10, 2026 at 14:02 UTC

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Summary

Dozens of staff at HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette told Wired their publishers are quietly using LLMs like Claude, ChatGPT and Jasper to generate back-cover copy, cover art and literary-agent pitches without author consent. HarperCollins reportedly runs an 'AI Champions' program; Simon & Schuster offered a $10,000 employee contest for AI use before easing off after complaints; Hachette says it supports operational AI but not creative work. Staff describe growing internal pushback.

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Shannon Vallor @shannonvallor.bsky.social: Good info to know who not to publish with if you have choices →
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@wired.com

Workers at three major publishing houses tell WIRED that LLMs are being used for publicity, cover art, back cover copy, and emails, as some execs push junior staff to champion the tech.
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Frank Pasquale @frankpasquale.bsky.social: “We’ve been making valid business cases for years to be paid a healthy salary, and instead they spent that money on software …The average en… →
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For @wired.com, I spoke with workers about the quiet push to experiment with AI tools from book publishing executives at the Big Five. www.wired.com/story/book-p...
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Shannon Vallor @shannonvallor.bsky.social

Good info to know who not to publish with if you have choices
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Originally reported by wired.com

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Original headline: Wired: HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Quietly Use Claude, ChatGPT and Jasper for Back-Cover Copy and Pitches