AI and the Novel
Thu 23 Apr 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm
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? Come and hear from our panel of experts as to what they hope and fear from the AI revolution. What are your dreams and nightmares for the future of the novel? Joining us will be 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, an acclaimed novelist and the Artistic Director of the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.
Chaired by Lesley Gannon, Deputy General Secretary of the Writers Guild of Great Britain.
Venue: Palmerston Room
Duration: 1 hour
With thanks to the Minderoo Centre for Technology & Demoncracy
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Panellist Biographies
Dr Clementine Collett is a BRAID UK Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. Her research explores the impact of generative AI on novelists, publishing, and the novel itself. She is also a published novelist. Through her research at Cambridge, Clementine has worked with hundreds of published novelists, fiction publishers, and literary agents across the UK.
Headshot by Gemma Turnball Photography
Caroline Cummins is Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the Publishers Association, the trade body for UK publishing. She leads policy development and government engagement on behalf of the association’s consumer, academic and education members. Caroline previously held advocacy and communications roles across the creative industries, including at the BBC and Arts Council England, and in Parliament.
Libby Marshall began her career as a bookseller. She is now Publishing Director of Serpent’s Tail, an imprint of Profile Books.
Kate Sawyer worked as an actor and producer before writing several short films then turning her hand to fiction. Her second novel This Family was a Waterstones Book Of The Month and Paperback of the Year. Her debut, The Stranding, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, won the East Anglian Book Award for fiction, was adapted for BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime and is being developed for the screen, and her third novel Getting Away was selected as a Bookseller Pick of The Month. From 2022-20024 Kate produced the Novel Experience podcast, where she spoke to other novelists about their writing practices and the experiences that led them to being published. Kate is also the Artistic Director of the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.
Headshot by Sophie Davidson
As Deputy General Secretary, Lesley Gannon plays a key role in the negotiation and implementation of the Writers Guild of Great Britain’s national agreements in TV, theatre, radio and film. She leads on WGGB research and policy and oversees other core areas of the union’s work.
