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Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Virtual Worlds
Artificial Intelligence is already embedded in much of our daily lives and it's increasingly moving into realms that impact authors and the publishing industry. We need to embrace the opportunities and engage in conversations around possible threats in order to reinvent our industry for a very different future.
The pandemic of 2020 has accelerated converging technologies and changed human behaviour across the globe to favour digital business models. In this book, I discuss current technological and societal trends and consider the opportunities for authors and the publishing industry over the next decade.
Writing in the age of AI, including Natural Language Generation models like GPT-3
Copyright law, Blockchain for smart contracts, and micro-payments
AI-assisted translation
Voice technologies, streaming and subscription
Virtual worlds and augmented reality
Global, digital, mobile. A wave of new writers.
It’s time to change our business model. If we embrace this wave of converging technology, we can create abundance in our industry, enabling new forms of creativity, growing the market with new products and experiences, and expanding revenue for the entire supply chain.
We are creators. We turn ideas in our heads into books in the physical realm. We can use these technologies to surf the wave of change and invent the decade ahead — together.
I hope you will join me on the journey.
The pandemic of 2020 has accelerated converging technologies and changed human behaviour across the globe to favour digital business models. In this book, I discuss current technological and societal trends and consider the opportunities for authors and the publishing industry over the next decade.
Writing in the age of AI, including Natural Language Generation models like GPT-3
Copyright law, Blockchain for smart contracts, and micro-payments
AI-assisted translation
Voice technologies, streaming and subscription
Virtual worlds and augmented reality
Global, digital, mobile. A wave of new writers.
It’s time to change our business model. If we embrace this wave of converging technology, we can create abundance in our industry, enabling new forms of creativity, growing the market with new products and experiences, and expanding revenue for the entire supply chain.
We are creators. We turn ideas in our heads into books in the physical realm. We can use these technologies to surf the wave of change and invent the decade ahead — together.
I hope you will join me on the journey.
- GenresNonfiction
54 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2020
27 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Penn
46 books1,230 followersJoanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling fiction and memoir author as J.F. Penn.
She’s also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. She lives in Bath, England with her husband and two British shorthair cats, and enjoys a nice G&T.
See also Goodreads author's profile as J.F. Penn.
She’s also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. She lives in Bath, England with her husband and two British shorthair cats, and enjoys a nice G&T.
See also Goodreads author's profile as J.F. Penn.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 30, 2021
Very short and also very informative and inspirational. Joanna’s podcast, The Creative Penn, has a lot of information on these subjects and is a good companion to this material (look especially for the episode on blockchain/NFTs).
December 6, 2020
A fantastic, inspirational, and insightful read.
Yes, the notions put forth in the book can be frightening, but the author explores the merger of artificial intelligence, technology, and machine learning with the human creative spirit as something that can be beneficial rather than destroying the possibility for an artist to continue to earn a living.
Penn's optimism and desire to face the technology straight on, embrace it and examine ways creative people can adapt that technology is a critical strategy that authors and publishers need to adapt into their own ways of looking at this realm.
The possibilities are limited, as they say, only by the imagination. You often head in the direction that you are looking. So ask yourself, if the notion of these technologies frightens you, where you're choosing to focus?
Kudos to the author for taking a daunting topic and boiling it down to something authors and other creatives can understand and appreciate.
Yes, the notions put forth in the book can be frightening, but the author explores the merger of artificial intelligence, technology, and machine learning with the human creative spirit as something that can be beneficial rather than destroying the possibility for an artist to continue to earn a living.
Penn's optimism and desire to face the technology straight on, embrace it and examine ways creative people can adapt that technology is a critical strategy that authors and publishers need to adapt into their own ways of looking at this realm.
The possibilities are limited, as they say, only by the imagination. You often head in the direction that you are looking. So ask yourself, if the notion of these technologies frightens you, where you're choosing to focus?
Kudos to the author for taking a daunting topic and boiling it down to something authors and other creatives can understand and appreciate.
December 2, 2020
Joanna Penn has always been ahead of the game when it comes to publishing, so it came as no surprise to me when, in a recent podcast, she broadcast an interview between herself and a fellow author Mark Lefebvre (based in Canada) conducted entirely using their AI 'voice doubles'. At once intriguing and spookily convincing, albeit while not 'quite there yet', it was clear that the technology behind voice doubles will quickly be refined and a become mainstream option in the smorgasbord of audio offerings that are coming down the line thanks to AI, offering exciting new opportunities - as well as challenges around IP - for the creative industry.
This is just one aspect of glimpses into the near- and longer-term future that Jo's new book covers - and it is all compelling: from licensing author datasets (authors' stories and writing style) to inform natural language machine learning in order to generate novels in a similar genre, to using blockchain as a means to protect and manage author IP and royalty payments globally in the emerging world of AI-generated content.
Penn rightly highlights the importance of including current creative works in this new world - to ensure diversity in the AI-generated language style. Relying on out-of-copyright works, largely written by white middle class men, clearly won't cut the mustard!
She also points out how critical it is for the publishing industry to engage actively in the conversation around the rules for this emerging new world: "Intellectual property reform in the age of AI is inevitable, and we need our voices to be heard..... Most author organisations and publishers have shown little interest in submissions..." [to Govt around this topic]. "If creative voices are not in the room when these issues are discussed, then stronger voices will dominate -- and these may not benefit creators and rights-holders."
AI assisted translation, the inevitable to move to subscriptions-based content and what this means for authors are also covered in this short but highly readable book ... and more. Jo Penn doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk. Her background as a Management Consultant advising global corporations on IT systems to improve efficiency lends weight to the clarity of vision and logic she expresses around the likely future that authors and publishers need to understand, engage with and embrace if we are to take advantage of what AI holds for us as creators.
This is just one aspect of glimpses into the near- and longer-term future that Jo's new book covers - and it is all compelling: from licensing author datasets (authors' stories and writing style) to inform natural language machine learning in order to generate novels in a similar genre, to using blockchain as a means to protect and manage author IP and royalty payments globally in the emerging world of AI-generated content.
Penn rightly highlights the importance of including current creative works in this new world - to ensure diversity in the AI-generated language style. Relying on out-of-copyright works, largely written by white middle class men, clearly won't cut the mustard!
She also points out how critical it is for the publishing industry to engage actively in the conversation around the rules for this emerging new world: "Intellectual property reform in the age of AI is inevitable, and we need our voices to be heard..... Most author organisations and publishers have shown little interest in submissions..." [to Govt around this topic]. "If creative voices are not in the room when these issues are discussed, then stronger voices will dominate -- and these may not benefit creators and rights-holders."
AI assisted translation, the inevitable to move to subscriptions-based content and what this means for authors are also covered in this short but highly readable book ... and more. Jo Penn doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk. Her background as a Management Consultant advising global corporations on IT systems to improve efficiency lends weight to the clarity of vision and logic she expresses around the likely future that authors and publishers need to understand, engage with and embrace if we are to take advantage of what AI holds for us as creators.
March 12, 2022
While this book is closer to a long essay on the subject than a deep dive book, Joanna Penn does a remarkable job in it. I found myself interested and wanting to pay attention throughout. While the author intentionally focuses on writers and publishers, I was regularly pausing to take notes for things to explore further in my own industry, things to try professionally, and even writing email to colleagues who are professional writers to get their feedback.
I think her discussion of blockchain contracts or creative types should be more widely discussed if it is not already.
It is not a long read and well worth the effort.
As a parting thought - do check out the bibliography. There is a goldmine of resources to take ideas further.
I think her discussion of blockchain contracts or creative types should be more widely discussed if it is not already.
It is not a long read and well worth the effort.
As a parting thought - do check out the bibliography. There is a goldmine of resources to take ideas further.
January 5, 2023
Great intro into the future world and implications of technology for authors.
Simple enough for me to understand with practical examples that the author has tried herself. This is a complicated and scary aspect of life for authors and I think Joanna Penn helps to allay the fears by showing us how we can embrace these technologies at an early enough stage so they become useful tools rather than destroyers of worlds!
I've a way to go before really understanding it all, but this little book is a useful start along the path.
Thank you Joanna.
Simple enough for me to understand with practical examples that the author has tried herself. This is a complicated and scary aspect of life for authors and I think Joanna Penn helps to allay the fears by showing us how we can embrace these technologies at an early enough stage so they become useful tools rather than destroyers of worlds!
I've a way to go before really understanding it all, but this little book is a useful start along the path.
Thank you Joanna.
August 4, 2021
Intellectually and fiscally intriguing. Futuristic in the sense that the author is pragmatically forward-thinking with regard to current technologies and how they'll be evolving in the next decade (and, better yet, an author who's writing "from the trenches").
I'd liken the content to Naveen Jain's "Moonshots," but focused primarily on the publishing world. Nice assortment of technical data points, examples, and case studies presented in clean language.
I'd liken the content to Naveen Jain's "Moonshots," but focused primarily on the publishing world. Nice assortment of technical data points, examples, and case studies presented in clean language.
December 2, 2020
Loved this great overview of tech that will impact creatives
I really enjoyed reading this book and it gave a great overview of all the technologies that creators need to worry about. When I say worry, I don’t mean to fear but rather to learn about so that you don’t worry about them.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it gave a great overview of all the technologies that creators need to worry about. When I say worry, I don’t mean to fear but rather to learn about so that you don’t worry about them.
December 3, 2020
The future of books
Brilliant book. The author clearly explains how automation and AI are disrupting the book publishing industry and what the future could potentially look like. Must read for all indie authors if you don't want to get left behind. Some chapters also spark novel ideas to monetize books in futuristic formats.
Brilliant book. The author clearly explains how automation and AI are disrupting the book publishing industry and what the future could potentially look like. Must read for all indie authors if you don't want to get left behind. Some chapters also spark novel ideas to monetize books in futuristic formats.
December 5, 2020
Fascinating glimpse of possibilities of AI for creators
If you are a writer or any sort of creator, the chances are that you will need to get to grips with AI, sooner rather than later. This book is a highly accessible introduction to this world.
If you are a writer or any sort of creator, the chances are that you will need to get to grips with AI, sooner rather than later. This book is a highly accessible introduction to this world.
July 20, 2021
Disruptive and interesting
As usual, Joanna Penn has done a terrific job writing this book. The topics presented are indeed important for the future of creators. We must pay special attention to AI in the years to come if we want to stay current and not loose opportunities.
As usual, Joanna Penn has done a terrific job writing this book. The topics presented are indeed important for the future of creators. We must pay special attention to AI in the years to come if we want to stay current and not loose opportunities.
September 17, 2021
Excellent resource on what’s to come for authors
Excellent book with lots of references on what’s to come in the future of publishing. Made me purchase a course on how to program in VR environment.
Excellent book with lots of references on what’s to come in the future of publishing. Made me purchase a course on how to program in VR environment.
December 5, 2020
I'm giving it five stars because the part about authors was a great view to the impending future, but the rest of it was almost too much. A benevolent look at AI. Penn's brilliant.
December 12, 2020
A good survey
A good overall survey of new and emerging technologies as they relate to writing and various aspects of the publishing industry.
A good overall survey of new and emerging technologies as they relate to writing and various aspects of the publishing industry.
March 11, 2022
Mind-blowing info & the course that this eBook is a part of is put very well together. I’m greatly enjoying both 😃
February 8, 2024
A quick and fascinating punch to the gut.
December 14, 2020
The publishing industry faces many changes in future. As always, Joanna acknowledges the challenges, but sees these as opportunities to grow our sales and reach.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews