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The Wittmann Agency

Reading time 2 min 37 sec

Good Morning, First Name

There is a lot of noise around AI at the moment.

Big claims.
Bigger fears.
And very little clarity.

So when a recent study by Anthropic crossed my desk, I paid attention — not because it was dramatic, but because it was refreshingly measured. And perhaps that is exactly what publishing needs right now.

Not more hype.
But a better understanding.


🤖 So, should we be worried?

The short answer?

Not in the way most headlines suggest.

The study shows something far more nuanced:

AI is not replacing entire professions.
It is quietly reshaping how work is distributed.

Especially in fields like ours:
knowledge-driven, creative, relationship-led.

In other words:

👉 The work is not disappearing.
👉 But parts of it are changing.


📚 What this means for book publishing

Three observations stood out to me:

1️⃣ The most experienced professionals are the most exposed

Not because they are replaceable but because their work sits closest to decision-making, analysis, and strategy.

That includes:

  • rights managers

  • editors

  • agents

  • publishers

Which raises an interesting thought:

👉 AI is not targeting the bottom of the ladder first.
👉 It is assisting — and reshaping — the top and the middle.

2️⃣ Entry-level roles may quietly shrink

The study does not show a spike in unemployment.
But it does point to slower hiring for junior roles.

In publishing, that could mean:

  • fewer assistants

  • fewer trainees

  • fewer traditional entry points into the book publishing industry

A subtle shift — but an important one.

Because every industry needs its next generation.

3️⃣ The biggest impact is augmentation

Not replacement.

AI is being used to:

  • handle repetitive tasks

  • support analysis

  • accelerate workflows

Which creates something quite powerful:

👉 More time for thinking
👉 More space for creativity
👉 More focus on relationships

If — and this is important — it is used intentionally and with care.

🌍 My perspective from my rights & mentoring work

At The Wittmann Agency, I have been exploring this shift for years.

Not as a trend.
But as a tool.

I began working digitally early on, and today, I use AI, including systems like Claude, to support:

Not to replace judgment or editorial + manuscript reading.
But to enhance it.

Because international rights work has never been just about data.

It is about:

  • timing

  • trust

  • intuition

  • relationships across cultures

AI can support that.
But it cannot replace the human touch + judgment.


So where does that leave us?

Not in a crisis.

But in a moment of quiet transition.

The publishers, agents, and rights professionals who will thrive are not those who resist AI completely—nor those who chase every new tool blindly.

But those who ask:

👉 Where does this free up my time?
👉 Where does this sharpen my thinking?
👉 Where does this allow me to focus on what truly matters?

Because in the end, publishing has always been about one thing:

Connecting stories with people.

And that — even now — remains deeply human.

I would love to hear your perspective:

Where has AI already changed your workflow and where has it not?
Or does it still feel like something happening “elsewhere”?

Just hit reply — I am genuinely curious.

With optimism and a thoughtful eye on the future,

💕

xoxo
Claudia
Founder, The Wittmann Agency — your global book publishing co-pilot

👉If you are curious how I combine human expertise with smart systems in international rights work, I am always happy to share a behind-the-scenes look. Just send me your question.

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I’m an ex-corporate girl, a creative and global book publishing and licensing expert and the host of the Love Letter To Bookworms. Welcome to my virtual living room!
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