“Responsible Use of AI for Book Publishing” gives publishing teams

a practical, industry-specific foundation for adopting AI with confidence

Frankfurt, Germany—October 6, 2026— KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL), a leading provider of content solutions to publishers worldwide, and publishing analyst and author Thad McIlroy today announced a joint partnership to launch KGL AI Academy – The Future of Publishing, an AI education platform built specifically for the publishing industry. The Academy’s inaugural program, Responsible Use of AI for Book Publishing, opens for enrollment in Spring 2027.

Generative AI is reshaping every stage of the book publishing life cycle, from acquisition and editorial through production, marketing, and rights. Yet most available AI training is generic, leaving publishing professionals to translate broad guidance into the realities of their own workflows, contracts, and author relationships. KGL AI Academy closes that gap with certification designed by and for the publishing community.

Responsible Use of AI for Book Publishing is an eight-part, self-paced online training and certification program for editors, marketing managers, production staff, and rights, licensing, and operations teams. It is suited to both senior and newer publishing professionals, and equips participants to:

1. Evaluate AI tools and solutions for publishing applications
2. Implement AI-driven workflows and optimize existing processes
3. Navigate legal, ethical, and research-integrity considerations
4. Develop strategic plans and make informed AI investments
5. Lead AI initiatives within their organizations

The eight units intend to cover AI fundamentals, publishing use cases, copyright, ethics and the evolving jobs landscape, AI within the publishing workflow, AI in editorial, AI in marketing, and the future of AI in publishing. Three optional modules extend the core program.

“Publishers don’t need another general-purpose AI course. They need guidance grounded in how books are actually made, sold, and licensed,” said Adrian Stanley, Chief Business Development Officer, KGL. “The Academy brings that expertise to our clients and the wider industry, so teams can move from experimentation to responsible, well-governed adoption. Building the Academy together with Thad McIlroy, one of the most respected voices on AI in publishing, gives it exceptional depth and credibility from day one.”

“Every publisher I speak with is asking the same questions: which tools are worth using, what the legal risks are, and how to bring staff along,” said Thad McIlroy, co-founder of KGL AI Academy. “Together with KGL, we’ve built a program that answers those questions in practical terms. My goal is for every participant to finish with the knowledge and confidence to lead AI work in their own organization.”

The program is available to individuals and as an enterprise publisher program, enabling organizations to build shared AI capability across entire departments. Responsible Use of AI for Book Publishing is the first of a growing Academy curriculum, which KGL and McIlroy will develop jointly, with further programs planned across scholarly publishing, editorial, production, research integrity, publishing operations, and AI leadership.

The price for the 8-part series is $495, with discounts available for groups and for associations.

Publishers interested in early enrollment or an enterprise program can register their interest at kwglobal.com/ai-academy or visit KGL at Frankfurter Buchmesse, October 7-11, 2026, at stand G100 in Hall 4.1.

About Thad McIlroy and The Future of Publishing

McIlroy has worked at the intersection of publishing and technology since the 1980s, advising trade houses, university presses, and independent publishers. He is the author of The AI Revolution in Book Publishing, publishes The Future of Publishing blog, was co-host of the Publishers Weekly AI webinars and the BISG AI webinar series, and in July 2026 keynoted the IPA Congress in Kuala Lumpur.

About KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd.

KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL) is the premier industry provider of editorial, peer review, production, online hosting, institutional sales, author marketing, consulting, and transformative solutions for every stage of the content lifecycle. KGL serves the STEM/HSS, educational publishing, and eLearning markets from content creation through digital and print publication. A division of CJK Group, Inc., KGL unites content and technology expertise with over 200 years of experience serving the publishing market. For more information, please visit www.kwglobal.com.

Media Contact: Mike Groth, Director of Marketing, KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd., mike.groth@kwglobal.com