For immediate release
NEW YORK, NY — June 8, 2026 —
Draftboard, a growth toolkit for independent authors, has launched The State of AI in Self-Publishing 2026 — a national survey of 2,500 self-published authors conducted with digital PR agency Wonkbird Media.
While headlines argue about whether AI belongs in books at all, hundreds of thousands of independent authors are quietly deciding for themselves. The survey will put the first hard numbers on those decisions:
- What share of indie authors use AI to draft, edit, or translate manuscripts — and how many disclose it to readers
- Whether AI-assisted authors earn more or less than authors who write unassisted
- How AI is reshaping author budgets for covers, blurbs, advertising, and keyword research
- Which states and genres lead AI adoption among authors
- What authors believe readers think — measured against a companion poll of readers
"Every author we serve is making an AI decision right now, mostly in the dark," said a Draftboard spokesperson. "Nobody has measured what's actually happening across the indie shelves. That's the gap this study closes."
Results, embeddable graphics, and full state-level data tables will be released in July 2026. Journalists can request embargoed access now.
About Draftboard
Draftboard builds marketing and analytics tools for independent authors — sales analytics, advertising insights, and reader-review programs that help self-published writers grow after launch.
About Wonkbird Media
Wonkbird Media is a data-driven digital PR agency headquartered in New York City. We field original consumer research and turn it into stories for newspapers, radio, TV, and online newsrooms across the United States. Coverage inquiries: press@wonkbird.com.
###