Simon & Schuster, through Wibke Grutjen, says its AI tools aim to "free up more time for our employees"
Simon & SchusterGlobal chief marketing and communications officer Wibke Grutjen, speaking for Simon & Schuster to WIRED
Wibke Grutjen, Simon & Schuster's global chief marketing and communications officer, told WIRED that employees across all functions have access to a limited number of enterprise-level AI tools, that using them is not mandatory, and that the company prohibits any AI tool that has not been vetted and approved. She said the goal is to free up more time for employees to spend on deeper focus and creative work.
“the goal is always to free up more time for our employees to spend on deeper focus and creative work on behalf of and alongside our authors.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should book publishers use AI tools in their internal workflows?
WIRED's October 9, 2026 report documents disagreement over publishers' internal AI use. Simon & Schuster's Wibke Grutjen defends optional, approved tools. Literary agent Emma Dries prefers a ban, or clearer disclosure. Publicist Kathleen Schmidt accepts administrative assistance but rejects AI-written publicity pitches.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Original interviews about publishers' operational AI use.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
WIRED reported that agents suspect Big Five editors of using AI to write rejection letters, and that employees at Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and Hachette say they believe the suspicions are correct.
After the quotation
WIRED reported that HarperCollins did not respond to requests for comment.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether book publishers should use AI tools in their internal workflows. Grutjen says Simon & Schuster gives employees a limited set of vetted tools, that use is voluntary and that the goal is to free up time for deeper and creative work, which supports internal use, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, because she limits use to approved tools; she describes the tools' purpose as freeing up employees' time, so it loses.
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More from this case
Read the full caseKathleen Schmidt says it is "short-sighted" to use AI for publicity copy and pitches
“I agree it is short-sighted to use them for publicity copy and pitches, because if that becomes the norm, all pitches and publicity copy will start sounding the same.”Read statement
Literary agent Emma Dries says a ban on AI tools "would frankly be my preference"
“Short of these tools being banned, which would frankly be my preference ... everybody should be communicating more.”Read statement
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- Simon & Schuster, through Wibke Grutjen, says its AI tools aim to "free up more time for our employees"
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The Dispute Index. "Simon & Schuster, through Wibke Grutjen, says its AI tools aim to "free up more time for our employees"". First published: 2026-10-11. Last updated: 2026-10-11. https://disputeindex.com/events/5462-wibke-grutjen-simon-schuster-s-global-chief-marketing