​AI, Literacy, and the Future of Reading: Turning a Crisis into Opportunity

The conversation around Artificial Intelligence often feels like the opening chapter of a dystopian novel. We hear a lot about how it will reshape industries, redefine creativity, and, depending on who you ask, either save or end the world. But as I look at the landscape today, there is a more urgent issue facing us; one that will determine whether any of these digital innovations actually matter: the quiet, steady decline in reading.

The decline in reading

Across many of our markets, the habit of reading for pleasure, that transformative, immersive joy, is in retreat. Fewer children are choosing to read in their free time, and many adults have simply lost the habit. Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a shift in lifestyle or the byproduct of a "busy" modern world. It is a structural risk to our society. Literacy is the ultimate equaliser; it’s the infrastructure of a successful life. It’s what allows a person to land a first job or secure a loan.

Crucially, it will also equip the next generation with the cognitive resilience to navigate an AI-saturated world, giving them the tools to spot a fake news headline before it triggers their outrage. When reading declines, our collective ability to focus and engage authentically with the world goes with it.

I’ve always had a bias for action. So, rather than viewing AI as the antagonist in this story, I want to look at it as a tool, perhaps the most powerful one we’ve ever had, to help solve the literacy crisis itself.

​The battle for attention

The core challenge we face isn't technology; it’s attention. We are living in a world optimised for the "quick click," where the slow magic of long-form narrative must compete with the instant gratification of a smartphone. And we are losing more than a simple hobby here; we are losing the ability to sit with a complex idea. In a world of digital noise, deep reading is the rigorous training ground for the critical thinking that drives every scientific breakthrough and business innovation we celebrate.

We can’t simply sit in our comfortable publishing offices and expect readers to return to old habits out of a sense of duty. We have to meet them where they are. I am interested in how we move beyond using AI as a mere distraction and instead deploy it to reconstruct the path to literacy. We should be using these tools to spark a love of reading in ways we’re only just beginning to imagine - turning an algorithm of distraction into an engine of discovery.

​A bridge, not a barrier

I truly believe AI can be a bridge between a person’s everyday interests and a deeper, more sustained engagement with books. We shouldn't wait for readers to find us; we should use the tools at our disposal to find them. Imagine a world where AI doesn't just recommend "another book like the last one," but identifies what a young person is already passionate about - whether that’s gaming, football, or climate activism - and surfaces the perfect story, in the perfect format, at the perfect moment. That is "supercharged" discovery.

We must use these tools to:

• ​Build personalised pathways for reluctant readers, gradually building their confidence without them feeling like they’re being "taught."
• ​Lower the barriers through smarter audio and interactive formats that make the page feel like a "radical welcome" rather than a gated community.

​Our goal isn't to replace the traditional book - I still believe the printed page is a piece of perfect technology in its own right. It’s to use every bit of innovation we have to invite more people into the room.

​The radical welcome

If we’re serious about changing things, we have to lose the snobbery. For too long, the book world has been too precious about what "counts" as reading.

I want us to offer what I call a radical welcome. Whether it’s a graphic novel, a fast-paced thriller, or an audiobook that brings a story to life while you’re on the bus, every entry point is valid. Curiosity should be something we fuel, not something we filter. AI can help us here by listening more closely to what people actually care about, moving us past our own assumptions so we can meet audiences with content that truly reflects their lives.

​Protecting the human spark

Of course, as we embrace these tools, we must be clear about what is non-negotiable. Human creativity is the heart of everything we do. It is the emotional spark, the messy originality, and the unique voice that no algorithm can ever truly replicate.

If we risk cutting out our authors and illustrators, we risk losing more than just content; we risk losing the diversity of thought and the nuance of imagination that only a human can provide. Protecting this means standing firmly behind copyright. The integrity of intellectual property isn’t just a legal point; it’s the foundation of a sustainable creative culture that allows new voices to thrive.

We must use AI to enhance the reach of human storytelling, not to dilute the value of the people who create it. Our future depends on us remaining a community that champions the "human spark" in every story we tell.

​From disruption to opportunity

​Reversing the decline in reading isn't a quick fix - it’s a long-term commitment.

​It’s easy to be distracted by the "disruption" narrative of AI. But I see a different story. If we align this new technology with our core purpose, we can reconnect millions of people with the power of words. The literacy crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time, but it is one we can solve. By pairing the scale of AI with a fierce, unwavering commitment to human creativity, we can ensure that more people don't just learn to read - they choose to read. And in doing so, they’ll find the opportunity and the joy that will last a lifetime.

Joanna Prior is CEO of Pan Macmillan, a Holtzbrinck company. She is also chair of the National Literacy Trust in the UK and was awarded an OBE for Services to Publishing and Literacy in the 2026 King's New Year Honours List.