Macmillan Staff Say the Publisher Threw a Party for a Workplace AI Assistant That Was Later Killed (www.wired.com)

In January 2024, Macmillan Publishers introduced an AI chatbot named NOA (No Ordinary Assistant) amid a celebratory launch that many employees found offensive. Developed by the German software company Chaptr, NOA was designed as a closed-loop tool for tasks such as drafting emails and performing marketing research, with assurances that it wouldn't share proprietary data. Despite initial enthusiasm, employees quickly found NOA unhelpful, describing their experiences with the AI as unreliable, leading to its eventual discontinuation in October 2025. The significance of NOA's failure resonates throughout the AI and publishing communities, highlighting the challenges of integrating AI tools effectively into traditional workflows. As companies like Macmillan explore alternatives like Google Gemini—found to be equally ineffective—concerns grow over the diminishing role of human creativity in publishing. The situation reflects a broader trend within the industry: while publishers are pressured to adopt AI to cope with cost-cutting measures, many authors are questioning their reliance on traditional publishing houses amidst AI's creeping presence, fueling discussions about the future of authorship and the balance between technology and artistry in literature.