London Writers' Salon #156: George Walkley – Understanding AI: A Practical & Positive Guide for Writers, Creators & Publishers, Plus Ethics, AI vs Human Imagination.
19 snips
Aug 3, 2025 George Walkley, an AI strategist and former Hachette executive, shares valuable insights on the intersection of AI and the publishing industry. He discusses the necessity of 'prompt literacy' for writers and how AI tools are reshaping creativity. George highlights the importance of ethical AI use, challenges around copyright, and the environmental costs associated with AI. He emphasizes that while AI has potential, the uniqueness of human creativity remains irreplaceable, providing tips for navigating this complex landscape.
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Episode notes
AI vs Human Creativity
- George Walkley shares that AI is about probability, whereas humans are about possibility.
- He describes writing as an embodied, iterative thought process involving revising over time.
George's Publishing Journey
- George transitioned from bookshops to publishing, becoming marketing director and digital strategist at Little Brown and Ashet.
- He developed digital business strategies and advised on mergers and acquisitions in publishing.
Broad Definition of AI
- AI broadly replaces tasks previously done by humans, ranging from supermarket self-checkouts to medical diagnostics.
- Large language models like ChatGPT generate new content and are central to concerns among authors and publishers.
