Eighty percent of respondents to the Textbook & Academic Authors Association’s latest survey, “Generative AI, Your Publisher & You,” said they have not had conversations with their publishers about their position on AI, their use of AI in their work(s), and/or contract clauses related to AI. The purpose of the survey, conducted between December 12, 2023, and January 8, 2024, was to help members advocate for themselves in conversations with their publisher(s) about generative Al (like ChatGPT) in contracts, policies, and statements.

Of those respondents who have had conversations with their publishers about AI, the majority (56%) said that they initiated those conversations themselves. The primary reason for reaching out was to discuss their publisher’s position on AI (50%). Thirty-three percent said the reason was to discuss how they can use AI in their works or contract clauses related to AI.

Of those respondents who said their publishers reached out to them about AI, 50 percent said the primary reason for reaching out was to discuss their position on AI. Forty-two percent of respondents said it was to discuss how they can use AI in their works, and 33 percent said it was to discuss contract clauses related to AI.

Only 36 percent of respondents said they felt educated enough about Generative AI to be able to advocate for themselves in conversations with their publishers on the topic.

Only one respondent reported having anything related to AI in their publishing contracts and 32 percent said they didn’t know if they did. The one respondent who had something related to AI in their publishing contracts said: “I must agree to follow their global AI policy, which mostly concerns a ban on using any of my textbook content to train an AI system.”

Fifty-eight percent of all respondents are textbook authors.

Survey responses will also be used in preparation for future TAA virtual roundtable discussions on generative AI. The majority of respondents (60%) said they would be interested in participating in such discussions.

The survey was sent to TAA members, former members, prospective members and shared on TAA social media; a total of 89 responses were received.

---

Sign On to Class Action Complaint Against Open AI and Microsoft

Susman Godfrey L.L.P. filed a class action complaint against open AI (the makers of ChatGPT) and Microsoft for damages related to their “large-scale infringement of their copyrighted works, as well as injunctive relief.” Contact Rohit Nath, from Susman Godfrey L.L.P., at RNath@susmangodfrey.com to sign on to the class and/or any questions. Learn more about the class action suit.

Resources on Generative AI & Authoring

View additional resources on AI and authoring, including other TAA surveys on generative AI and the recording of a 2023 TAA Conference Roundtable Discussion led by Brenda Ulrich, an attorney at Archstone Law, “Generative Artificial Intelligence: What ChatGPT and Similar Technologies Might Mean for Textbook and Academic Authors”,