Let’s talk about our Bookinfluencers.com AI policy. We are deeply committed to celebrating authentic creativity and supporting original work. That is why we have made the decision to no longer work on titles where generative AI was used in the writing process or cover design. We love our authors and want to honour their original talent. We also recognise that the use of generative AI is a sensitive topic within our bookish community.

In this post, we’ll explain how we reached our stance on generative AI. We will also explain what this decision means for authors and creators alike.

What Is Generative AI vs. Assistive AI?

Generative AI (GenAI) is when a prompt entered into an AI tool: such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, generates new text or imagery, without any human creativity. Within book publishing and marketing, our primary concern is when GenAI is used to write a novel or generate a book cover.

Generative AI is distinct from Assistive AI, which supports human creativity without replacing it:

• Canva’s Magic Eraser uses Assistive AI to remove backgrounds from existing images. It enhances existing content rather than creating new artwork.
• Grammarly provides Assistive AI support for spelling, grammar, and tone without writing your novel from a prompt.

What Is the Official Bookinfluencers.com AI Policy?

The official Bookinfluencers.com policy reserves the right to decline promotional campaigns for books, cover designs, or influencer tour content created using generative AI. 

Our policy operates on a transparent, trust-based model:

• Self-Disclosure Screening: Authors confirm whether GenAI was used in their manuscript or cover design during initial campaign applications.
• Mutual Trust: If an author states that no GenAI was used, Bookinfluencers.com accepts that statement in good faith.
• No AI Auditing: We do not run automated detector scans or act as “AI police” to audit covers and manuscripts.

How Did We Decide on This Policy?

Bookinfluencers.com is a democracy. Antina, our founder, brought the topic to the entire team to gather our views on AI. We weighed several options:

1. Working on titles with AI covers on a case-by-case basis.
2. Evaluating each book individually based on team consensus.
3. Implementing a clear, zero-tolerance policy for GenAI titles.

After discussing the potential financial impact, the feelings of our creator community, and the opinions of our authors, we chose a clear policy. We believe this is the fairest outcome: treating all authors equally while trusting them to disclose any GenAI use honestly.

Detecting AI accurately every single time is nearly impossible, and as there are no foolproof tests, we choose to lead with trust.

What the AI Policy Means for Authors

If you are an author applying for a book tour with Bookinfluencers.com, this policy has minimal impact on standard submissions:

• Application Screening: Authors simply confirm whether GenAI was used in their manuscript or cover design.
• Audience Alignment: As always, non-AI books may still be declined if we lack the appropriate target audience for that specific genre.

Indie Author Cover Design Alternatives

We understand that self-published and indie authors often work within tight budgets. To help authors maintain high-quality, human-designed artwork eligible for our tours, we partner with Damonza cover design services, who offer free cover reviews and design support. Read more about them, and other support here.

What the AI Policy Means for Book Creators and Influencers

While creators are free to explore AI trends on their personal channels, we hold specific standards for official campaign content. We ask creators to refrain from using generative AI in Bookinfluencers.com tour posts. This includes post creation and using AI to write a review.

Non-AI Content Resources for Creators

• 2027 Creator Series: Launching in 2027, we will have a monthly blog series where we will share tutorials on crafting engaging bookish content completely without AI. This is an expansion of our popular Instagram series.
• Protecting Authenticity: We prioritize genuine voice, creative storytelling, and authentic connections within the book community. Read more in this blog post.

Community Trust and Campaign Feedback

Our policy relies on open communication. If an author confirms their title is free of GenAI, we trust their word. We also assume that this trust goes both ways, with the author respecting our position the same way we respect their word. 

If you are a book reviewer or creator participating in a campaign and have questions about a specific title or cover design, please contact your Campaign Manager directly.