AI & the Novel
Recorded: Thu 23 Apr 2026
Duration: 1 hour
AI & the Novel
Spring 2026
The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘a novel’ as ‘a long printed story about imaginary characters and events’ and the adjective ‘novel’ as ‘new and original, not like anything seen before’. We expect novels to be novel but it’s this that’s most at risk from generative AI – or is it? Hear our panel of experts share what they hope and fear from the AI revolution, and what they see as the future of the novel. Expertly chaired by Lesley Gannon, the Deputy General Secretary of the Writers Guild of Great Britain, she is joined by Dr Clementine Collett, a Research Fellow exploring the impact of generative AI; Caroline Cummins, the Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the Publishers Association; Libby Marshall, the Publishing Director of Serpent’s Tail; and Kate Sawyer, acclaimed novelist and the Artistic Director of the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.
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