Technology * Innovation * Publishing Newsletter #339
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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important. I also try to include some resources & opportunities. Please let me know what you think.
Important Items
Trump Taps Palantir (the company founded by Peter Thiel) to Compile Data on Americans
The Trump administration has expanded Palantir’s work with the government, spreading the company’s technology — which could easily merge data on Americans — throughout agencies.
The US Is Storing Migrant Children’s DNA in a Criminal Database
Customs and Border Protection has swabbed the DNA of migrant children as young as 4, whose genetic data is uploaded to an FBI-run database that can track them if they commit crimes in the future.
https://www.wired.com/story/cbp-dna-migrant-children-fbi-codis/
The White House Is Choosing Its Own Press Pool. 5 Reasons That Should Alarm You.
https://pen.org/the-white-house-is-choosing-its-own-press-pool-5-reasons-that-should-alarm-you/
As Threats and Harassment of Authors Spill Over Into Bookstore Appearances, Safety Experts Offer Guidance
MT @STrimel First they came for authors, banning books in school libraries. Now bookstores are being targeted when they host banned writers for talks and readings. Safety guidance can help protect these spaces and prevent authors from being silenced. @PENamerica
RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ report seems riddled with AI slop
Dozens of erroneous citations carry chatbot markers, and some sources simply don’t exist.
https://www.theverge.com/news/676945/rfk-jr-maha-health-report-ai-slop
Technology
The New York Times Reaches AI Licensing Deal with Amazon
MT @DCNorg The New York Times has inked a multiyear AI licensing deal with Amazon to bring its journalism to a number of Amazon-owned products and experiences
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/30/nyt-amazon-ai-licensing-deal
This Latest AI Book Debacle Is A Disturbing Part Of A Growing Trend
HT @publishingtrend The Self-Publishing Dilemma: How AI Is Flooding the Market With Synthetic Stories — Authors left the prompts in the published book!
https://screenrant.com/romance-book-ai-use-growing-trend-explained/
Mary Meeker’s Latest Internet Trends Report About AI
Her report uses the term “unprecedented” 51 times!
https://www.bondcap.com/reports/tai
AI Eats the World
Via @benedictevans
https://www.ben-evans.com/presentations
Building the agent economy: How cloud leaders are shaping AI’s next frontier
https://www.cbinsights.com/research/ai-agent-strategy-top-cloud-providers/
I let Google’s Jules AI agent into my code repo and it did 4 hrs of work in an instant
In the time it took to make coffee, it rewrote major parts of my code. I didn’t just watch it work, I shipped its changes. This is real. But there are also real big caveats.
We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard.
By 2028, power going to AI-specific purposes could generate the same emissions as driving over 300 billion miles.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1116327/ai-energy-usage-climate-footprint-big-tech/
Meta plans to replace humans with AI to assess risks
Critical updates to Meta’s algorithms, new safety features and changes to how content is allowed to be shared across the company’s platforms will be mostly approved by a system powered by AI
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/31/nx-s1-5407870/meta-ai-facebook-instagram-risks
Anthropic debuts Claude conversational voice mode on mobile that searches your Google Docs, Drive, Calendar
https://venturebeat.com/ai/anthropic-debuts-conversational-voice-mode-for-claude-mobile-apps/
Perplexity’s new tool can generate spreadsheets, dashboards, and more
AI may already be shrinking entry-level jobs in tech, new research suggests
A World Economic Forum survey shows that AI may be making some entry-level roles obsolete while increasing demand for experienced professionals.
Google tries smart glasses again
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/google-ai-smart-glasses
Google shows off Android XR-based glasses, announces Warby Parker team-up
Meta is working on plans to open retail stores, internal communication shows
https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-retail-stores-expansion-virtual-reality-2025-5
Publishing & Media
A wave of new owners brings fresh energy to independent bookselling
Who Gets A Book Deal? Luke Bateman’s Success Puts Publishing Inequality In The Spotlight
https://www.pedestrian.tv/online/luke-bateman-book-deal-controversy/
In Touch, Life & Style, Closer and First for Women Magazines to Shutter, Lay Off Entire Staffs
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ sequel is coming — but the glory days of magazines like Vogue are over
Ad spending on magazines has shrunk by nearly half since the first film came out in 2006, and the doorstop September issue is a thing of the past
Fame and Frustration On the New Media Circuit
Media fragmentation has changed publicity from a precision game to spray-and-pray. “No one’s sure what works anymore.”
https://www.vulture.com/article/new-media-circuit-hollywood-publicity.html
Daily Telegraph to be sold to US firm RedBird
Buyout firm RedBird will take control of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph after a two-year ownership vacuum
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gk8m1lrmlo
Trade War Shuts Down Lost River Press
Lost River Press, the independent publisher helmed by former Paris Review editor Nicole Rudick, will be closing its doors. In a statement, the publisher said that “conditions from the trade war have forced us to shut down Lost River Press.”
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=5383
The Big Ten Academic Alliance has inked a deal with Springer Nature
The Big Ten Academic Alliance has inked a two-year Open Publishing Agreement with Springer Nature, offering all authors across participating institutions unlimited open access publishing in Springer’s hybrid journals portfolio.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=5385
Appeals court rules Texas library can remove books based on content
Federal appeals court ruled TX public library patrons cannot challenge removal of books and don’t have a 1st Amendment right to info from public library. This overturns a prior injunction+directly contradicts IA case, setting up potential Supreme Court challenge.
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/llano-county-texas-library-book-ban
Anti–Book Banning Initiative Gets Industry Support
We Are Stronger Than Censorship Receives Support from Book Manufacturers Institute: BMI is encouraging its 110 members to donate to We Are Stronger Than Censorship, an initiative cosponsored by @ibpa and @EveryLibrary. If members raise $16K, BMI will match.
Resources & Opportunities
Exclusive Book Talk and NYBG Library Tour
WMG Members only, FREE 6/13 10–12pm, space limited — almost sold out. Join Penguin Random House’s Library Marketing team for an exclusive morning at the New York Botanical Garden’s LuEsther T. Mertz Library, featuring a conversation with the award-winning chef and author Amy Chaplin, free book, free admission and parking, and a book signing.
https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6183358
WMG Job Seekers
Hey out-of-work WMG friends: We have a new series for you! Come to this FREE session with an expert on 6/18 from 12–1pm ET via Zoom for members only!!
https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6206707
Donate to my PRH Fundraiser for Behind the Book
I’m raising money for Behind the Book! Penguin Random House Community walk 6/12 is raising money for Behind the Book.Their mission is to inspire young people to cultivate their vast potential thru programs centered on diverse books & authors. Pls support!
https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6395883
2025 Unpublished Novel Award
MT @marcelalandres The Black List Unpublished Novel Award in the genres: Children’s & Young Adult, Crime & Mystery, Horror, Literary Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Thriller & Suspense, deadline 6/27 @theblcklst
https://blcklst.com/programs/2025-unpublished-novel-award
2025 WNDB Black Creatives Revision Workshop
MT @diversebooks 🔔 Are you an unpublished Black author looking to break into the publishing industry? Good news! Applications for 2025 Black Creatives Revision Workshop open starting 6/1, close 7/1.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesEKy3RPA0ZBYpKL1Z3UvSblvr4TbaX0sJ85P8YrQA2t60Tg/viewform
MJ Bear Fellowship Program
Journalists under 30: @ONA 2025 MJ Bear Fellowship is open to digital journalists. Fellows receive registration + travel support to attend ONA25 in New Orleans, 3 tailored coaching sessions, + complimentary membership to ONA for 3 yrs.
https://journalists.org/programs/mj-bear-fellowship/
Get Your Copy of PRH’s Limited Print Pride Zine
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/pride-in-your-words/
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