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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important. I also try to include some resources & opportunities. Please let me know what you think.

Technology

It’s Getting Harder to Spot AI in Contemporary Publishing. And That’s Very, Very Bad.

Via @mariskreizman1 There is no easy solution to AI detection for many reasons, partly because large language models are imperfect replications of prose written by actual authors in the first place, and partly because large language models are improving (if “improving” is the word to use for a product built off the backs of a wide variety of human writers) all the time. AI detection tools are notoriously flawed at best, ruinous to new authors at worst. They also seem like a particularly inelegant solution to the problem: why would we use AI to catch AI usage?

https://lithub.com/its-getting-harder-to-spot-ai-in-contemporary-publishing-and-thats-very-very-bad/

Testing suggests Google’s AI Overviews tell millions of lies per hour

Google’s AI-powered search continues to generate incorrect answers at scale, including false information, misleading summaries, and incorrect interpretations of search queries.

https://arstechnica.com/google/2026/04/analysis-finds-google-ai-overviews-is-wrong-10-percent-of-the-time/

Developer Claims to Crack Google’s AI Watermark Defense

Developer Aloshdenny published open-source code allegedly reverse-engineering Google DeepMind’s SynthID watermarking system, claiming to extract and manipulate AI image signatures. The technique reportedly used just 200 Gemini-generated images and signal processing – no neural networks or proprietary access required. Google disputes the claim, but the controversy exposes broader vulnerabilities in AI content authentication as deepfakes proliferate. The GitHub repository and Medium post detail methods to potentially strip watermarks or forge them onto human-created works

https://www.techbuzz.ai/articles/developer-claims-to-crack-google-s-ai-watermark-defense

We’re Using So Much AI That Computing Firepower Is Running Out

AI companies are rationing offerings and products, rankling users—a warning sign for a boom that depends on rapid adoption

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-is-using-so-much-energy-that-computing-firepower-is-running-out-156e5c85

How Fake People Became Real Influencers

AI avatars are redefining influence and trust online.

https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2026/04/how-fake-people-became-real-influencers/686755/

Stalking victim sues OpenAI, claims ChatGPT fueled her abuser’s delusions and ignored her warnings

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/10/stalking-victim-sues-openai-claims-chatgpt-fueled-her-abusers-delusions-and-ignored-her-warnings/

New AI model generates 45-minute lip-synced video from one photo and runs in real time

https://the-decoder.com/new-ai-model-generates-45-minute-lip-synced-video-from-one-photo-and-runs-in-real-time/#google_vignette

Adobe’s new Firefly AI assistant can use Creative Cloud apps to complete tasks

You type what you want, the assistant can work across Firefly, Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, Express, Illustrator, etc. to do tasks for you.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/15/adobes-new-firefly-ai-assistant-can-use-creative-cloud-apps-to-complete-tasks/

Meta launches new proprietary AI model Muse Spark

Use for shopping (it picks up on brands, styling choices, and content in Instagram & Threads), health (analyze nutritional content from food pics), or generate web-based minigames or tutorials on the fly.

https://venturebeat.com/technology/goodbye-llama-meta-launches-new-proprietary-ai-model-muse-spark-first-since

The Memory Maker

OpenAI’s Sora allowed you to deepfake yourself. Users started to remember things that never happened.

https://longreads.com/2026/04/09/openai-sora-deepfake-memories/

Amazon Pulls Support for Perfectly Fine Older Kindles

In an email to customers, Amazon announced that it would be ending service for Kindle devices older than the 2012 edition. Those devices will lose access to the Kindle Store.

https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-pulls-support-for-perfectly-fine-older-kindles/

Publishing & Media

The Internet’s Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril

As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages.

https://www.wired.com/story/the-internets-most-powerful-archiving-tool-is-in-mortal-peril/

Condé Nast Shutters Self Magazine, Folds Wellness Coverage Into Allure and Glamour

The company will also stop publishing Wired’s Italian edition and several of Glamour’s international editions

https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/conde-nast-ends-self-magazine/

NPR receives $113 million in charitable gifts

NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher said the gifts would help to set up the network and its stations for the next 50 years. The philanthropist Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million specifically toward ensuring NPR transforms its technology to meet the needs and serve the interests of public media audiences on whatever platforms or devices they may seek it. Another donor, who has elected to remain anonymous, has given NPR $33 million to build and acquire tools and services that will be shared with public media organizations across the nation. The network intends to aid stations in analyzing their audiences, marketing themselves, and raising money, among other things.

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5787634/npr-113-million-charitable-gifts-connie-ballmer

Whoopi Goldberg’s WhoopInk, a Blackstone Publishing imprint, aims to bring diverse voices to the market

https://apnews.com/article/whoopi-goldberg-imprint-books-blackstone-49f8a5f31633b39aa752a99aa88bdf5a

Resources & Opportunities

“Blind Date with a Book” Exchange & Shopping at M.M.LaFleur with Jodi Brockington

4/21, 6pm. M.M.LaFleur, NYC. WMG & Badass Book Club members only; FREE

Join WMG President Emerita Jodi Brockington for a night of shopping and camaraderie—with a literary twist. As part of the evening, guests will take part in a “Blind Date with a Book” Exchange as a unique way to share stories and inspiration. Guests are invited to bring one of their favorite books, wrapped to keep the title a mystery. Upon arrival, each participant will add a few thoughtful clues to guide others in choosing their next read. As attendees sip, shop, and get styled, they will browse the collection of mystery books and select one that speaks to them. You may just discover a new favorite author! All guests will receive $50 off purchases made during the event.

https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6625980

New York Cinefest with Yona Deshommes and Georgia McBride

4/26 8-10pm NYC, WMG members only

WMG board member Georgia McBride has a film premiering at New York Cinefest, and we want to be in that room with her! Georgia produced Regression, a psychological horror film from writer-director Melissa Vitello. Regression follows a grad student who, after the unexplained death of her best friend, becomes haunted by an eerie manifestation of the past. Desperate for answers, she and her roommates turn to past life regression hypnotherapy—only to uncover connections far deeper and darker than any of them imagined. Attend the premiere with Georgia, fellow Board member Yona Deshommes, and other WMG friends to see storytelling at its finest, support a female-led movie, and applaud Georgia’s success as producer.

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6638286

Women and Money: Navigating the Pay Gap

4/28 12-1pm ET virtual. FREE for WMG members, $15 for non-members

Maintaining financial wellness in today’s turbulent economy can feel like an impossible job. The task is even more arduous for women, as they earn 80 cents to a man’s dollar. Join WMG for a timely discussion about the relationship between gender, race, and pay equity. Sophia Reynoso, Mori Taheripour, and Francesca Donner will explore the real challenges women face—and the strategies that actually work to get the compensation we deserve.

https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6618671

Women in Book Publishing: Past, Present, and Future

5/6 6-8 pm, NYC, WMG members only

Join us for an exclusive members-only evening of book talk, socializing, and insider insight into the world of publishing—past, present, and future. We’re thrilled to welcome Gayle Feldman in conversation with publishing leader Madeline McIntosh, co-founder of Authors Equity and former U.S. CEO of Penguin Random House. At the heart of the evening is Gayle’s highly praised new biography, Nothing Random—a compelling portrait of one of the co-founders of Random House. The book doubles as a cultural history of twentieth-century book publishing, providing a rich backdrop for a fascinating discussion about the role of women in publishing. Together, Gayle and Madeline will shed light on the often overlooked women who shaped the books Random House became known for—editors, copy editors, publicists, and groundbreaking authors like Gertrude Stein, Ayn Rand, and Toni Morrison. Blending historical knowledge with personal experience, they’ll also explore where publishing is today and what opportunities lie ahead for women in the field.

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6638344

Join the Conversation at Our Online Member Social

5/12 6-7 p.m. ET. WMG members only; FREE (Zoom)

Join WMG Co-President Jane Wesman to welcome incoming Co-President Jacqueline Cripps and celebrate the WMG Board at our Online Member Social!

This is a community-building celebration for all Women’s Media Group members. It’s a chance to pause, connect, and invest in your professional community. We’ll begin with a warm welcome from WMG’s leadership, then move into facilitated breakout sessions where you’ll introduce yourself, highlight a current goal or challenge, and meet peers whose skills or interests might align with yours.

Afterwards, we’ll bring everyone back together for a wrap-up where we’ll share resources, upcoming WMG programs, and ways to stay engaged—whether you’re seeking a mentor, offering support, or exploring a new idea. The result? A stronger connection to WMG’s thriving network and fresh momentum for your next act in media.

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6653373

How Three Pages Can Change Your Life: The Fastest Way to Land a Big Book Deal

5/14 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET. Penguin Random House, 1745 Broadway, NYC

Come for the member price of only $20 w code WMGPARTNER

Many authors and publishing insiders know this shortcut to a big book deal: publish a standout essay in a major outlet like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, or New York Magazine. It’s far easier to write and publish a brilliant three-page piece than a 300-page book. And that single article, whether fiction or nonfiction, can attract literary agents and editors to you, saving years of searching and rejection and fast-tracking your path to a deal.

The challenge is knowing what to write, how to shape the article, where to submit, and how to make the most of the opportunity once it’s published. In this panel, agents, authors, and editors will break down how it really works and how to turn one great piece into real momentum.

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6653453

AI in publishing workflow conference

5/11-5/22 virtual conference. I’m moderating a stellar panel on Where are book publishers now with AI. While the conference is free, if you want to watch the recordings for up to 90 days and access the private community channel, use code KSANDLER for a 30% discount.

https://purepub.ai

National Library Week

Celebration Days During National Library Week:

4/20: Right to Read Day,

4/21: National Library Workers Day,

4/22: National Library Outreach Day,

4/23: Take Action for Libraries Day

https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

PEN America Literary Grants Open

PEN America confers grants each year in support of writers and works in progress across diverse genres including translation, YA and middle-grade writing, and oral history.