The IPG Autumn Conference took place on 10th September at the Shaw Theatre, and once again proved to be an instructive, engaging and expansive look at the challenges and opportunities for all Independent publishers. But for the 300 attendees, one subject seemed to dominate: AI. Not one session seemed to go by without it being mentioned – but it is how it was mentioned that was most striking. Here’s what we learned from the day:
1. Indies are using AI more than ever…
According to a recent IPG survey, AI adoption among independent publishers reached 76% in 2026, up from 42% in 2023. In their session Jamie Hodder Williams of Bedford Square Publishers, Kate Parkin of Firefinch Publishing and Will Atkinson of Wilton Square and Eye Books said that AI had now become part of their administrative workflow. However, they were very, very clear that they would not use AI for generating creative work.
2. … and indies could become the driver of AI adoption in publishing.
In her session, AI in Independent Publishing, Dr Miriam Johnson of Oxford Brookes University suggested that the AI debate has changed from “Can We?” to “Should We?”. This seemed particularly apposite in the Soundings from Audio talk.
In it, Matt Sweet from ElevenLabs played an AI generated version of The Odyssey, narrated by an authorised AI version of Michael Caine. He also explained that only 5% of ebooks have a corresponding audiobook, and that an AI generated audiobook can be produced for around $50 per hour of play, rather than $500 per hour for a traditional production.
With audio still booming, and still finding new listeners, it’s no surprise that AI generated audiobooks look so attractive to publishers looking for additional sales. This was also borne out by the fact that the number of AI audiobooks released increased by 90k YOY in 2026, but generated very small revenues of around $600k.
The question for Indies is therefore“Should We?” and if the answer is yes, and consumers agree, it might change the landscape of audiobook publishing.
3. It’s the Stupid Economy, stupid.
In her opening keynote, BBC Chief Economics Correspondent Dharshini David painted a dark, depressing picture of the UK economy. The first slide said that had we kept the pace of pre-2007 growth, UK workers would be around £10k per year better off; instead, we are effectively worse off than before. Brexit disproportionately affected Small Medium & Enterprise (SME) businesses – a bracket into which most IPG publishers fit – while inflation has hit books harder because people’s expectations of what a book costs have not much shifted in the last decade.
These are far from the only factors at play. Weak wage growth, chronic underinvestment, skills mismatch and rising welfare costs have played havoc with Britain’s ability to compete on a world stage. It means that publishers are being squeezed from all angles, even from the kinds of people who might buy their products. Higher education trends that favour high-return degrees over performing arts and languages, means the publishing industry faces a new generation of readers who perhaps no longer read for pleasure.
4. Direct-to-Consumer works – you just need to work out how to do it for you…
Jeremy Weill, Founder and CEO of Colour Your Streets, talked through setting up his company from his kitchen to turning it into a multi-million dollar business through D2C sales. His approach of capturing data on customers first, funneling them through a set process of engagement, and also upselling at all times was impressive.
Jeremy spoke engagingly about experimenting with different spaces – Facebook, Instagram etc – as well as his experiment with TV advertising. As traditional television viewing has declined, advertising on it has become more affordable. Jeremy sees this as an effective way to reach new audiences, but their core marketing remains online.
5… and how it works now!
With direct-to-consumer routes expanding, and retail algorithms shifting, traditional search optimization is just not enough. Discussions emphasized that publishers must improve and rigorously own their metadata – particularly output-shaping metadata like targeted audience definitions and citations – to ensure titles remain visible across evolving AI search platforms and online booksellers. It’s a subject we have looked at before, and you can find our guide to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) here.
6. It’s not all Doom and AI!
At the keynote address at the top of the day, IPG President Oliver Gadsby said that the members of the IPG contributed over £2 billion to the UK economy, and are still making great books.
In her closing address, Susie Dent – lexicographer turned crime novelist – said that we all needed to remember that while systems, algorithms, and business models evolve, the publisher’s essential purpose remains rooted in human storytelling, craftsmanship, and the celebration of language.She also introduced us to a most delightful word: vellichor, which describes the must and smell of second-hand bookshops.
The mood was thoughtful and reflective, but it will be interesting to see what developments have been made via AI when we come to the IPG Spring Conference in 2027.
