Publishers bet on AI while readers find six-fingered hands in books

On 8 January 2026, the Beijing Book Fair opened. Before the launch, Guomai Culture unveiled a publishing platform called "World of Books", an AI tool built specifically for publishers. The presentation was accompanied by a conference on digitalisation trends in the industry, attended by representatives of publishing groups, editors-in-chief and researchers. The trade magazine《出版人》summed up the shift in one sentence: AI is not meant to replace content, but to rewrite how it is produced, verified, distributed and monetised. Cai Yuru, a representative of the platform, spoke of "delivering certainty" rather than a simple service.

80 percent less repetitive work

Specific numbers matter here, as the publishing industry rarely reports them. The platform's editorial module aims to reduce repetitive tasks by more than 80 percent. The system covers the entire path from topic selection through editing and design to marketing and video production. The topic-selection module provides data instead of hunches. The editorial module handles routine work. The marketing module contains a database of online creators with ready-made contact scripts. The design module generates cover and layout variants in several styles. Plans also include broadcasts hosted by digital avatars and a three-stage online editorial review. The tool is designed to shorten the publishing cycle and raise content quality.

A publishing conglomerate bets on agents

China's largest publisher is planning just as concretely. On 6 January 2026, at a partner conference, the CITIC Press group presented four priorities for the year, including AI-based products. A "book agent" and an "author agent" are set to appear in the publisher's reading app. These assistants will hold conversations about titles and support contact with creators. The company announced seven main publishing series, a programme to build one hundred "reading companies", and the donation of a book collection to thirty schools. New rules on reading promotion that took effect on 1 February 2026 made reading a matter of public policy, giving publishers a clear signal that the state will support the market.

The other side of automation

Optimism is tempered by a hard reality. In January 2026, outrage erupted after it was discovered that nearly half the illustrations in the guide《人像摄影口袋书》had been produced by a generator. Some images contained anatomical errors: hands with six fingers, feet with six toes, blurred faces and unnatural light transitions. Critics noted that a portrait photography handbook is not about pretty graphics, but about conveying real experience with models, light and framing. Teaching from false examples damages the reader's sensitivity and undermines trust in the industry. As a remedy, they point to mandatory verification of AIGC content in publishing and education, integrating labelling compliance into the editorial process, and personal liability for violations. China's rules on labelling AI-generated content have been in force since September 2025 and require such material to be marked. The problem is not a missing rule, but its enforcement. Savings from automation are easiest to show in the accounts and hardest to demonstrate in the quality of a book.