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More writers will rely on AI to spark creativity and beat writer’s block, says Harry Potter publisher boss bloomsbury Said.
Nigel Newton, the publisher’s founder and chief executive, said the technology could support almost all creative arts but would not have the power to replace the big names.
“I think AI will probably help creativity because it will enable the eight billion people on the planet to get started in some creative field where they might be hesitant to take the first step,” he told the PA news agency.
Using the example of writer’s block, he said: “The AI gets them going and writing the first paragraph, or the first chapter, and gets them back in the zone.
“And it can do similar things with painting and music composition and almost all the creative arts.”
Mr. Newton, who signed JK Rowling In the 1990s the publisher acknowledged concerns that AI could be used to write entire books, saying this would be a “problem”.
But he stressed that ultimately, readers want to read books written by well-known authors.
“We are programmed deep inside ourselves dna There is solace in the authority and credibility of big brand names, and this applies more than ever to big author names,” he said.
The chief executive said, “There will be some poor content out there so people will increasingly turn to authority sources to be reassured” that they will spend hours reading something good.
Bloomsbury’s sales have been boosted in recent years by some best-selling authors, namely fantasy author Sarah J. Maas.
His series, including A Court of Thorns and Roses, have sold millions of copies worldwide, and were described by Bloomsbury as a “publishing phenomenon”.
The Harry Potter franchise remains a bestseller for the publisher 28 years after the first book was published.
Mr Newton said Gen Z readers are fueling a resurgence of physical books, with Maas’s series an example of books made popular by social media.
“I think it’s a reaction to the pixelated world we live in,” he told PA.
,People They want a thing of beauty that they can hold on to…it’s human nature.
“The bookshelf is an important part of many homes…it’s all part of the museum of your own mind and your own journey as a reader.”
Trends like “BookTok” are trending on video sharing app TikTok and influencers Instagram Sharing your favorite titles has helped attract a new group of young readers.
Bloomsbury revealed sales of £160 million in the first half of 2025, down slightly from £180 million in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, it lauded its first AI licensing deal, which will allow it to sell academic work to train generic AI programs.
Mr Newton stressed that Bloomsbury authors would have the opportunity to “opt-in” to the scheme and would be paid royalties if they decided to use their work – he said that many of its authors had indicated a willingness to participate.
He previously warned that the work of publishers and authors should be protected from being used for AI training without their permission.