AI and Publishing Intersect at Madrid's PARIX 2025 Conference

The recently concluded PARIX conference in Madrid offered an illuminating exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming the publishing landscape. Hosted at the symbolic 'Matadero' - Madrid's converted meat markets - the venue itself represented the industry's evolution in adapting to new technologies.

The meticulously curated event brought together diverse perspectives from publishing, education, law, academia, and technology. Our team was invited to discuss how AI emancipates human artistry, examining implications not just for publishing but across creative industries.

Justo Hidalgo provided a comprehensive global overview and impressively demonstrated a real-time app build in Replit that evaluates manuscripts' commercial potential. The educational applications of AI were thoughtfully explored by Concha Roldán, Alberto Valero, and Jorge Calvo, while Adela Cortina and José María Serrano delivered fascinating insights on the mental and moral science aspects of AI.

Industry leaders shared practical implementation strategies, with Jesús Badenes and Marta Martinez Gutierrez addressing how publishing houses are incorporating AI in book development. Roberto Carreras emphasized that AI in book marketing is already a present reality rather than a future consideration.

Other notable presentations included Marc Boutet, Ignacio Ferro Picón and Javier Celaya on accessibility; Samuel Petit's advances in AI vision for reading visual narratives; George Walkley's overview of AI's quiet revolution in English-speaking publishing; and Christoph Bläsi and Christian Kohl's masterful examination of ethical, economic and customer experience implications.

Beyond individual presentations (soon to be available as YouTube videos), what truly impressed was witnessing the Spanish publishing industry's proactive approach to AI - educating themselves, embracing the tools, and optimistically reshaping workflows and ambitions.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Luis González and Arantza Larrauri for orchestrating this kaleidoscopic day of insights, and to Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez for their gracious hosting. The conference exemplified how meaningful dialogue can accelerate innovation while preserving publishing's core values.