Introduction to AI Guidelines

At the recent London Book Fair (LBF), Wiley has introduced a set of publicly accessible guidelines and FAQs aimed at assisting authors in navigating the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their writing processes. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns among both academic and trade authors regarding the implications of AI on intellectual property and manuscript development.

Wiley’s Vision for Author-Driven AI Use

The primary objective of these guidelines is to empower authors to actively shape the application of AI in their work rather than passively adapting to its influence. This philosophy is evident throughout the guidelines and accompanying FAQs, which provide actionable insights on various aspects, including:

• Utilizing AI tools effectively
• Formulating appropriate prompts
• Evaluating different AI models
• Disclosing the use of AI in their writing

Expert Insights from Wiley Leadership

Josh Jarrett, Wiley’s Senior Vice President of AI Growth, stresses the importance of these FAQs as valuable resources that offer practical, step-by-step guidance for authors. He noted, “We hope that they create some standard practices and best practices so that we can all learn together,” reinforcing the notion that these resources can lead to a collective understanding of AI’s role in authorship.

Wiley’s Experience with AI

Wiley has been actively engaging with AI technologies over the past 18 months, acquiring substantial expertise in this domain. This experience has been instrumental in shaping the guidelines. Their initiatives have involved licensing content for the development of AI models and exploring Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), a method designed to enhance the quality of responses generated by AI by tapping into reliable informational sources.

Author Contracts and Licensing

Regarding author contracts and the terms surrounding AI licensing, Jarrett elaborated, “As a general rule, different forms of licensing are typically captured in author contracts, and we honour those contracts. We pay royalties against those contracts, whenever there’s a licensing arrangement.” This commitment underscores Wiley’s dedication to maintaining transparency and fair compensation in the evolving landscape of AI and authorship.