Microsoft has launched a new book publisher aiming to print faster than traditional publishers.
Named after an Intel microprocessor, 8080 Books will publish titles focused on technology, science and business.
The publisher aims to “accelerate the publication process, shortening the time between the final manuscript and the book’s arrival on the market,” according to a company statement.
“Technology has accelerated the pace of almost every industry except publishing,” he adds. “We know that bigger ideas and arguments can travel faster than they currently do. Can they travel too fast? Of course, that already happens in abundance, but we seek to find the right balance.”
The first 8080 title, No Prize for Pessimism, from Microsoft Deputy CTO Sam Schillace, is available now. The book explores the need for optimism when creating technology products.
Its second title, Platform Mindset, is written by Marcus Fontoura, formerly a technical fellow and corporate vice president at Microsoft, and will be available later this year.
The publisher anticipates that many of its writers and readers will be “current, former and future Microsoft employees,” as well as customers, researchers and policymakers.
However, along with Microsoft writers, she hopes to “showcase minds and ideas outside the company” and is “especially interested in new and unconventional writers and thinkers.” It is not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts.
8080 also plans to reissue “significant works” and out-of-print books that remain relevant.
The publisher said its initial focus topics will be “technology and the future; business processes and productivity, and social priorities in law, ethics and policy.”
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He said he will experiment with technology to “accelerate and democratize” book publishing, and is building a “rigorous” editorial process that will involve detecting “worthy” ideas and arguments quickly, helping with manuscript development, inviting internal and external reviews, and meet “standards of style and substance.”
The publisher will “cover the costs of using publishing professionals” and donate any remaining revenue to charity through Microsoft Philanthropies.
This week it was revealed that Microsoft had struck a deal with HarperCollins to use some non-fiction books it publishes to train an AI model, with the authors’ permission.
**While 8080 Books aims to democratize publishing, what safeguards are needed to ensure that the platform remains accessible to emerging authors and doesn’t inadvertently favor established voices or those within Microsoft’s network?**
## World Today News Exclusive: Inside Microsoft’s Innovative Book Publishing Venture, 8080 Books
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of publishing with a fascinating new player: 8080 Books, a Microsoft-backed initiative aiming to revolutionize the industry. We’re joined by two special guests:
* **[Guest 1 Name],** [Guest 1 Title/Affiliation], offering insights from within the publishing industry.
* **[Guest 2 Name],** [Guest 2 Title/Affiliation], providing a perspective on technology and its impact on traditional fields.
**Section 1: The Need for Speed:**
**Interviewer:** 8080 Books is built on the premise that traditional publishing is too slow. Do you agree with this assessment, and why has it taken so long for a tech giant like Microsoft to challenge this status quo?
**Guest 1:** [Offers their perspective on the pace of traditional publishing and potential reasons for the lack of disruption.]
**Guest 2:** [Weighs in on the impact of technology on other industries and whether publishing has been lagging behind.]
**Interviewer:**
The article mentions “accelerating the publication process” and “finding the right balance” between idea dissemination and responsible publishing. Where do you see the potential pitfalls of speeding up the publishing process?
**Guest 1:** [Discusses potential downsides like rushed editing, quality control issues, and potential for misinformation.]
**Guest 2:** [Explores the need for ethical considerations, fact-checking, and the balance between speed and accuracy.]
**Section 2: The 8080 Vision:**
**Interviewer: ** 8080 Books is currently targeting technology, science, and business. What is the rationale behind this focus, and do you anticipate this scope expanding in the future?
**Guest 1:** [Offers insights on the strengths and weaknesses of this niche focus and potential for expansion.]
**Guest 2:** [Discusses the potential impact of this focus on the types of ideas and innovations fostered within the publishing landscape.]
**Interviewer:** The publisher aims to “showcase minds and ideas outside the company” while primarily targeting Microsoft’s ecosystem. How do you see this balancing act playing out?
**Guest 1:** [ Analyses the potential challenges and benefits of attracting external contributors while maintaining a connection to its parent company.]
**Guest 2:** [Explores the importance of diverse perspectives and the potential influence of Microsoft’s corporate culture on the publishing process.]
**Section 3: The Future of Publishing:**
**Interviewer:** The article mentions experimenting with technology to “democratize” publishing.
What concrete technologies do you envision playing a key role in this shift, and what are the potential implications for authors and readers?
**Guest 1:** [Discusses specific technologies like AI-assisted editing, online distribution platforms, and open-access publishing.]
**Guest 2: ** [Explores the potential for greater accessibility, wider reach, and increased reader engagement through technological innovation.]
**Interviewer:** Microsoft’s recent deal with HarperCollins to use non-fiction books for AI training raises important ethical questions. How can we ensure that the pursuit of innovation doesn’t come at the expense of author rights and creative integrity?
**Guest 1:** [Discusses the importance of transparency, author consent, and equitable compensation in AI training initiatives.]
**Guest 2:** [Explores the broader implications of AI in content creation, sharing concerns and potential solutions for ethical development and deployment.]
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to our guests for providing their valuable insights into this exciting new venture. 8080 Books opens up a fascinating conversation about the future of publishing, and we’re eager to see how this innovative platform shapes the literary landscape in the years to come.
