Virtual Classroom

Applying AI – Tools, Ethics and First Practical Steps

This half-day course looks at the issues surrounding generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
DATE

  • 29 Sep. 2026
  • 10 Dec. 2026

TIME

9.00am–12.30pm

FORMAT

Virtual classroom via Zoom

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Completion certificate

PRICE

£185 + VAT

Why should I take this course?

This half-day course looks at the issues surrounding generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and how they might be applied to your organisation.
What is AI? Where might it assist you in your workflow – and where is it best avoided?

What are the current legal issues around AI use?

What do you need to consider when developing an organisational policy around AI?

These questions, and many others, will be answered during the course. Covering the latest developments, the course will make you consider the ethical and practical aspects of using AI.
Benefits

Control how you learn & progress

Who is it for?

  • Anyone tasked with drafting an organisation policy for, or applying AI to, their organisation
  • publishers, commissioning editors and editors who are attempting to implement AI to their workflows, or need to understand how AI can assist
  • anyone working in publishing who wants to find out more about AI and how it can be used in practice

Learning outcomes

On completing this course you’ll be able to:
  • understand how to draft an organisational AI policy
  • think best about how to apply AI to editorial workflows and detect its use
  • select the best tools and ways to apply AI across their organisation.

Programme

The half-day session covers:

Strategic context and business implications

  • A brief history of AI and why 2022 changed everything
  • Strengths and weaknesses of foundation models
  • Barriers to the use of AI in publishing 
  • Implications for the publishing industry: what does the future hold? 


Legal and ethical considerations

  • Protecting human creativity in the age of AI
  • Developing an organisational policy on AI use  
  • Evaluating suppliers and services
  • AI detection in editorial: policies, tools, and disclosure practices

Practical first steps

  • Looking for opportunities across business functions
  • Common deployment architectures
  • Surveying the tools (software-as-a-service) landscape 
Details

What you need to know

Delivery

The course is broken down into 2 x 1½ hour sessions, with a break in between. It will run during the morning from 9.00am to 12.30pm. Any information to be completed beforehand will be sent via email.

Zoom

To join the course, you will need access to a computer, tablet or laptop with a camera and microphone. The course will be delivered via Zoom Pro with attendant security levels. You will need to activate a free Zoom account to join the course. 

Certificate

Upon completing the course you will receive a completion certificate from the Institute of Publishing.

Accessibility

Please contact us with any accessibility or special requirements, for example having in-session captions or the learning materials sent to you in advance.

In-company

This course is available for in-company training, either virtually or in person at your office. Course content is tailored to suit your requirements. Group sizes range from 5 to 12 attendees. To find out more, email us or call +44 (0)20 8874 2718.

What our students say about us

I thought the course was excellent. The trainer was very, very good – clear, knowledgeable, relaxed, informative. They had so much expertise, and the group was varied and engaged, so there was a lot of interesting discussion. The course gave me a lot to take away and think about with my team, and to implement in our workflows – which is exactly what we wanted.

- Senior Editor, Royal College of Psychiatrists

I’ve immediately gained a deeper understanding of types and uses of AI and have gained more awareness of perceptions and policies around AI. There were interesting conversations around the topics between participants. The tutor was dynamic and well informed.

- Delegate

What our students say about us

I now have a better understanding of the background to AI, the potential pitfalls around copyright, and things that I would need to consider when shaping an AI policy.

- Delegate

A very good overview of AI and how it is affecting and is likely to affect the publishing industry.

- The Educational Company of Ireland delegate

About the trainer

Mary Stuart

Trainer
ABOUT MARY STUART
Mary Stuart is the creator of Versa Language, an English-language application that offers online practice to adult English-language students, and an Honorary Researcher at NHS Gloucestershire. For 10 years, she was Digital Product Manager and Content Transformation Manager at Oxford University Press, working on digital transformation and workflows. Her passion is using data and technology to improve lives.