A program produced by Bologna Book Plus in the 2023 Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Image: BCBF
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘Copyright Protection’ Will Be ‘Central to the Discussion’
Almost at the same time Created by Humans was announcing the launch of its rights platform and proprietary AI Rights framework, the word arrived from Jacks Thomas‘ Bologna Book Plus that one of its offerings in Italy at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (March 31 to April 3) is to be an “AI Summit.”
At Bologna, this kind of terminology (a summit, a forum, a conference) can mean an event of, say, two hours to four or more hours: longer than a standard one-hour session, in other words.
The program is said to be taking place on April 1, the second day of Elena Pasoli‘s trade show. At this point, we’re not being given times or even the duration for the AI program, but we hope to have more soon.
Such familiar speakers are being engaged, we’re told, as HarperCollins‘ chief digital officerChantal Restivo-Alessi—who joined Publishing Perspectives onstage at the Audio Publishers Association‘s International Summit of Audio Publishers from Michele Cobb last September. She was also with us in an onstage conversation at the Sharjah Publishers Conference in November in the United Arab Emirates, from the Sharjah Book Authority led by the Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri.
And here on a very short list from Bologna, we see Shimmr.ai co-founder Nadim Sadek, who was part of our 2023 lead article and our Publishing Perspectives Forum at Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 15 to 19 in 2025.)
Related article: AI Rights for Authors: ‘Created by Humans’ Launches. Image: Publishing Perspectives, Johannes Minkus
We’re also told that children’s book publisher Nancy Traversy of Barefoot Books (in the States’ Concord, Massachusetts) is to speak.
The concept of the event, we’re told, is to “equip publishers with insights and tools” to cope with developments in “an era defined by artificial intelligence.”
Topics are expected to include:
- Strategic AI adoption
- Practical publishing tools
- Content discovery innovations
- Branding in an AI-driven landscape
Jacks Thomas
In comments on this early announcement, we read from Thomas, Bologna Book Plus’ guest director, “AI informs so much of our lives, and we’re privileged to be at the vanguard of the next phase for our industry.
“Publishing has always risen to the challenges of new technologies and seized the opportunities offered. I look forward to learning from the experts, with copyright protection central to the discussion and to welcoming a new age of creativity.”
Sadek says, “The AI Summit at Bologna Book Plus 2025 is more than a conference. We’re not just discussing technology, we’re mapping the future of publishing.
“AI isn’t something happening to our industry, it’s a collaborative tool that will amplify human creativity, streamline our workflows, and connect us more deeply with readers.
“This forum is about empowerment, giving publishers the insights, strategies, and confidence to lead in an AI-enhanced landscape.”
And Restivo-Alessi says, “I’m looking forward to the AI Summit at Bologna Book Plus 2025.
“Publishing is changing rapidly, and AI is the latest technological advancement the industry is incorporating into its business while remaining considerate and respectful of all stakeholders and rights involved.
“There’s always so much to learn from each other, both our old and new partners, in this new journey.”
Although many details of this year’s programming are to come, more about Bologna Book Plus can be found out about this generalist (non-children’s-focused) element of Bologna Book Fair here.
More from Publishing Perspectives on artificial intelligence and international publishing is here, more on Bologna Children’s Book Fair is here, more on Bologna Book Plus is here, more on Bologna Licensing is here, and more on international book fairs and trade shows is here.
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