American Booksellers Association releases 10 guiding principles for artificial intelligence

The American Booksellers Association published its 10 Guiding AI Principles on November 4, 2026. The association stated that independent bookstores understand the essential role human beings play in the creative process of the book industry. [1]

The trade group emphasized that it champions authors, illustrators, and artists while advocating for strong support of human creators. The association noted that while some creators view generative artificial intelligence as a tool to assist, inspire, and amplify creativity, the technology should never replace human workers. Humans must remain the beginning, middle, and end of the creative process even when artificial intelligence is used. [1]

The guidelines also focus on protecting copyright and intellectual property rights. The organization stated that copyright protection serves as the foundation of the creative industry. [1]

Public sector policies and laws regulating artificial intelligence have become an increasingly important issue in jurisdictions around the world. These legal efforts exist alongside guidance created by organizations without direct enforcement power, including the IEEE and the OECD. [2]