AI and the Intelligent Publisher

Over the past year, AI in publishing has moved rapidly from experimentation to operational reality. What began as curiosity about tools is now reshaping how marketing decisions are made, how teams work, and how readers discover books.

In this candid conversation, Joshua Tallent (Director of Sales & Education with Firebrand Technologies) and Brooke Dobson (Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Shimmr AI) reflect on what has changed - from the rise of agentic workflows and autonomous marketing systems to the growing role of AI as a decision layer across publishing organizations. They’ll explore how discovery is shifting beyond traditional channels, how leaders are redesigning workflows around intelligent systems, and what it takes to build a culture that can adapt as technology evolves. This session is designed for publishing professionals who want to understand not just how to use AI, but how to navigate the broader shift in operating models now underway — and what it means for strategy, teams, and growth in the year ahead.