In response to the rising prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) and concerns about utilizing it ethically in publishing, the University of North Georgia (UNG) Press developed AI and Publishing—a four-week online course offered in partnership with UNG Evergreen Learning, available in an asynchronous format beginning August 26, 2025. Guided by the Press’s direct experience with integrating AI into real publishing tasks ethically, practically, and securely, AI and Publishing teaches participants to harness AI as a strategic collaborator without sacrificing quality or values.
Following the introduction of the course developers in Ethical, Practical, Transformative: Meet the Instructors of AI & Publishing, we now take a closer look at the ideas, motivations, and practical insights behind the course itself. In this interview, UNG Press Director Dr. Bonnie (BJ) Robinsons discusses how she and Managing Editor Corey Parson developed the AI and Publishing course, why it’s needed now more than ever, and what students can expect to gain from the course.
Q&A with Dr. Robinson
Q: What inspired you and the Press’s managing editor to create a course on AI and publishing? Was there a particular moment, project, or development that pushed this from an idea to a reality?
A: The course grew out of our real-world work with AI at the Press—using it for copyediting, creating textbook ancillaries, and producing audiobooks. Those projects, along with growing interest from faculty and publishing colleagues, signaled a need for practical, ethical, and strategic knowledge-building. Our managing editor and I determined on turning our experience into a course that could help others navigate AI in publishing with confidence.
Q: You’ve led the UNG Press for over a decade, been a leader in Open Educational Resources and accessibility, and developed and taught several courses in English, literature, and publishing—your instructional and publishing qualifications are abundant. What specific experiences with AI informed your development of this course?
A: With our managing editor, I developed this course from experience integrating AI into open pedagogy, publishing, and editorial work while safeguarding privacy, accessibility, and ethics. At UNG Press, I’ve used AI for open textbook ancillaries, accessible resources, and editing efficiencies, while guiding faculty and students through issues like consent for public sharing, digital literacy, and bias. I’ve built in scaffolding, accessibility options, and strong data protections—minimization, anonymization, FERPA/GDPR compliance—so learners can use tools like ChatGPT and Copilot effectively, securely, and responsibly. These real-world practices directly shape the course’s structure and safeguards.
Q: Current conversations reveal both extreme optimism and cynicism surrounding AI, especially in fields as creative-driven and tradition-rooted as publishing. What leads you to perceive AI as posing an opportunity rather than a threat?
A: I see AI as an opportunity because it’s already helping us at UNG Press expand what’s possible without sacrificing quality, ethics, or creativity. AI-assisted line- and copyediting has allowed us to cut weeks from production schedules while still meeting rigorous style and accuracy standards. It’s enabled us to create curated open textbook ancillaries—such as adaptive quizzes, guided reading prompts, and instructor-ready slide decks—that ballast pedagogy with built-in accessibility features like alt-text and screen-reader-friendly formatting. We’ve also used AI to streamline audiobook production for our open textbooks, automating narration prep and proofing but relying on human narrators for tone and authenticity.
Q: Expanding on our previous question, ethics are a recurring concern in many conversations about AI. In your perspective, what does ethical AI use look like in publishing? How does this course address these concerns?
A: Ethical AI means clearly disclosing when and how AI is used in the editorial process, limiting data collection to what’s strictly necessary, anonymizing and encrypting sensitive information, and securing it against unauthorized access. It also means respecting copyright and licensing, mitigating algorithmic bias, and ensuring human monitoring for every AI-assisted output to maintain quality and editorial integrity. This course directly addresses these concerns by integrating data privacy best practices, copyright and licensing education, bias awareness, and accessibility standards into its content.
Q: How has AI already changed the publishing process at the UNG Press, and how do you imagine it will continue to evolve the industry within the next five years?
A: At UNG Press, AI has transformed key publishing workflows by streamlining editing, resource creation, and production. As already mentioned, we used AI to accelerate line and copyediting, develop open textbook ancillaries aligned with specific course goals, and produce audiobooks for our open textbooks—all tasks that would have consumed far more time and staff resources without AI support. Over the next five years, I expect AI to deepen its role in editorial precision and efficiency—providing more sophisticated, research-informed editing tools, generating adaptive learning resources that respond to reader needs in real time, and offering granular-level, data-driven marketing strategies.
Q: Many professionals are struggling to navigate where to begin with tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. What kind of skills or experiences will students walk away with after completing this course?
A: By the end of the course, students will be able to use advanced Microsoft Word, Teams, SharePoint, and Power Automate to manage editorial workflows; apply AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot for editing, fact-checking, ad marketing copy; use Canva’s design materials; adapt content for platforms such as WordPress and Pressbooks; and navigate copyright, attribution, AI transparency, and accessibility standards—culminating in delivering a complete, AI-supported publishing project from manuscript to market.
Q: For professionals, authors, students, or instructors still on the fence: Why is now the right time to engage with AI and publishing, and why is this the best course to start with?
A: This course will equip students with highly transferable professional skills—ranging from advanced editorial technology proficiency (Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Pro), AI-enhanced content creation and fact-checking (ChatGPT, Copilot), and collaborative workflow management (Teams, SharePoint, Power Automate) to marketing and design expertise (Canva, Adobe Express), accessibility compliance, and legal-ethical decision-making—preparing them to adapt these capabilities across publishing, communications, education, and other content-driven industries.
Registration Information
- Course Launch: August 26, 2025
- Schedule: Self-paced over 4 weeks—register now or anytime after launch
- Location: Fully online and asynchronous
- Cost: $199—UNG students and alumni receive a 10% discount
- Contact UNG Evergreen Learning at (678) 717-2377 for discount information
- Enroll today through UNG Evergreen Learning, the Office of Professional and Continuing Education
Want to learn more about the course? Drop your questions in the comment—we’d love to answer.
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