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Production Technology

6 articles in this section

Scientific manuscripts being processed through a digital AI workflow pipeline in academic publishing

Springer Nature Deploys Nearly 60 AI Tools Across Publishing Process, Benefiting 1.5 Million Papers

Springer Nature announced that in 2025, over 1.5 million papers benefited from nearly 60 AI tools deployed across its publishing process, covering screening, editorial evaluation, author retention, and research integrity. The company plans to increase its AI tool deployment by 25% in 2026, bringing the total to approximately 75 tools across the editorial pipeline.

March 13, 2026Source: Springer Nature

Springer Nature AI Tools Academic Publishing Research Integrity

Diverse readers with disabilities using accessible digital reading devices in a modern library

Production Technology

BISG Launches Two Accessibility Surveys to Map Industry Compliance Gaps

The Book Industry Study Group has launched two short surveys — one for content creators, one for recipients — to assess how publishers, distributors, retailers, and libraries are approaching accessibility compliance ahead of the ADA Title II deadline in April 2026.

March 12, 2026Book Industry Study Group

BISG Accessibility ADA Compliance

Business partnership meeting in a modern office

Production Technology

Bookwire and ElevenLabs Partner to Bring AI Narration to Independent Publishers

European e-book and audiobook distributor Bookwire has announced a partnership with AI voice company ElevenLabs to offer independent publishers affordable AI-narrated audiobook production, potentially transforming the economics of backlist audio conversion.

March 8, 2026Bookwire

AI Narration ElevenLabs Bookwire

Person using assistive technology at a computer

Production Technology

Project Gutenberg Tackles Accessibility with AI-Assisted Alt Text Tool

Project Gutenberg has deployed an AI-assisted tool to generate descriptive alt text for images in its vast catalogue of public domain e-books, making tens of thousands of titles more accessible to visually impaired readers.

March 6, 2026Project Gutenberg

Accessibility AI Tools E-books

A close-up shot of a person wearing headphones, intently listening to an audiobook on a tablet, with a blurred background of a modern library or bookstore.

Production Technology

BISG Audiobook Best Practices Working Group Meets to Adapt Standards for the U.S. Market

The Book Industry Study Group's Audiobook Best Practices Working Group met today as part of its ongoing effort to adapt and expand the BIC Digital Audiobook Best Practice for the U.S. market. The group, which brings together publishers, distributors, and technology providers, anticipates completing its work by late 2026. The resulting standards will provide guidance on metadata, file formats, accessibility, and distribution practices for audiobooks — a set of issues that have grown significantly more complex as AI narration, new platform requirements (Spotify, Audible, Apple Books), and the European Accessibility Act have all introduced new technical and compliance considerations simultaneously. ---

March 2, 2026Book Industry Study Group (BISG)

audiobook standards BISG metadata

Three AI voice generation platforms as futuristic sound mixing consoles

Production Technology

Best AI Voice Generators for Audiobooks in 2026: ElevenLabs, Play.ht, and Murf AI

ElevenLabs leads as the best overall AI narration platform, Play.ht excels in scalable production, and Murf AI is the most accessible for newcomers.

February 11, 2026Reedsy / The Rank Masters

ElevenLabs Play.ht Murf AI