Asian Publishers Week
Participant
Siriwannavy Pimchanok
Country : Thailand
Company : Amarin Corporations PCL.
Job Title : Managing Editor of Literature Division
E-mail : pimchanok_si@amarin.co.th
Work Experience in Publishing
Over the past 12 years in the publishing industry, I have navigated profound technological shifts, most notably the ongoing dialogue between print and digital books. My career is defined by a holistic understanding of the publishing ecosystem, having served across multiple disciplines as an Editor, Marketer, and Production Planner. This cross-functional background equips me with a comprehensive view of how a book travels from a manuscript to the reader’s hands.
Currently, I serve as the Head of the Literature Team, while continuing to actively edit both fiction and non-fiction titles. My global perspective on the industry has been continuously sharpened by participating in major international events, including the Seoul International Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, and Taipei Book Fair, allowing me to observe how different markets adapt to disruption.
As we enter the era of AI, I draw upon my experience of surviving previous digital transitions. I view AI not as a crisis, but as an unprecedented opportunity. I believe AI can optimize our marketing and production pipelines, ultimately empowering editors to focus entirely on cultivating human creativity. I am eager to join this fellowship to explore how we can strategically harness AI to elevate, rather than replace, the soul of publishing.
Current Projects
Currently, I am spearheading an “AI Detection and Creative Integrity Project” within our Literature division. In Thailand, the reading community highly values human craftsmanship and remains deeply skeptical of AI-generated content in creative writing and illustrations. Furthermore, as we handle numerous international rights and licensing agreements, many of our foreign translation contracts now explicitly prohibit the use of generative AI to ensure linguistic authenticity and strict copyright compliance.
To address this dual challenge of cultural resistance and rigorous licensing constraints, I proposed the foundational concept to establish a robust screening protocol. This project involves integrating advanced AI-detection tools and developing internal editorial guidelines to verify that submitted manuscripts and translations are authentically human-authored. By proactively preventing writers and freelance translators from using undisclosed AI, we safeguard our publisher’s reputation, honor our international partnerships, and maintain the profound trust of our readers.
Ultimately, this project is not an anti-technology stance, but a strategic governance initiative. It ensures that while we embrace digital transformation in our backend processes, we fiercely protect the irreplaceable human soul at the core of our literary works.
Experience Related to This Year’s Topic
My expertise at the intersection of AI and publishing centers on transforming editorial workflows and optimizing publishing labor. Rather than using AI for creative generation, I strategically deploy it as an advanced editorial assistant to eliminate time-consuming, repetitive tasks. My concrete daily applications include conducting deep internet research to fact-check complex manuscripts, identifying misused words during the proofreading phase, and structuring project management and work-tracking systems for my team.
To ensure accuracy and uphold our editorial standards, I enforce a strict “human-in-the-loop” policy: AI aggregates and processes data, but I remain the sole decision-maker for every task. To achieve high-quality results, I have implemented a structured prompt engineering framework in my workflow, consisting of six core pillars:
- Role: Assigning the AI a specific professional persona.
- Task: Defining the exact objective and scope of work.
- Context: Providing the manuscript’s background and target readership.
- Reasoning: Outlining the step-by-step analytical logic the AI must follow.
- Output: Specifying the exact deliverable format (e.g., bullet points or a comparative table).
- Constraints: Setting strict boundaries on what the AI must avoid.
By systematizing how I communicate with AI, I have turned it into a highly specialized, reliable publishing tool. This initiative significantly reduces the hours spent on administrative friction, allowing me to dedicate more time to high-level structural editing, nurturing authors, and exercising the nuanced human judgment that AI cannot replicate.
AI and Publishing in Your Region — Trends and Outlook (approx. 250 words):
In Thailand, the conversation around AI in publishing is currently defined by a stark contrast between fierce public resistance to AI-generated content and the strategic adoption of AI for backend operational efficiency.
The main risks revolve around copyright infringement, the devaluation of creative labor, and a severe loss of reader trust. Recently, the most significant public debates have unfolded on social media, where Thai readers have actively boycotted publishers caught using AI-generated book covers or relying on AI for translation. The reading community fiercely protects human craftsmanship. Furthermore, as a concrete industry response, we are seeing a strict tightening of licensing agreements; major international copyright holders are now explicitly amending contracts to ban the use of generative AI in translation and illustration. Violating these terms risks not just legal action, but catastrophic reputational damage.
Conversely, the main opportunities lie entirely in workflow optimization and business intelligence. While the creative frontline remains strictly human, progressive publishers are beginning to integrate AI into their operational models. This includes utilizing AI for metadata generation, streamlining editorial project management, analyzing market trends, and optimizing marketing campaigns. By treating AI as a “co-pilot” rather than an “autopilot,” publishers can significantly reduce administrative bottlenecks without compromising artistic integrity.
Ultimately, the outlook for the Thai publishing sector hinges on this delicate balance: rigorously ring-fencing creative generation to humans to retain the profound trust of our readers, while strategically harnessing AI to modernize our behind-the-scenes workflows.
What would you like to discuss at the Roundtable and Forum? (approx. 150 words):
At the Roundtable and Forum, I am eager to discuss the intersection of AI and Publishing Labor, specifically focusing on the psychological and operational shifts required to manage editorial teams in the AI era. As a Managing Editor leading a diverse team, particularly Gen Z staff, I have observed firsthand the anxiety and resistance surrounding AI adoption.
My proposed angle is: “Empowering Editors in the AI Era: Transitioning from Traditional Labor to Strategic AI Directors.” I want to explore practical strategies for upskilling publishing staff, designing policies that reassure them that AI is an operational co-pilot, not a creative replacement.
Furthermore, I wish to exchange ideas on navigating the generational divide in tech adoption while establishing robust screening protocols to protect creative integrity. I look forward to learning how international peers are fostering a culture of human-centric AI collaboration to maintain team morale and editorial excellence.
What would you like to discuss related to this year’s topic?
I would like to explore one central theme: rethinking publishing work before automating it. Many discussions focus on which AI tools publishers should adopt. I believe a more important question is which types of work should humans no longer spend their time doing. By distinguishing routine cognitive work from work that genuinely requires human judgment, cultural sensitivity, and personal relationships, publishers can make better decisions about where AI creates genuine value.
I would also like to discuss practical approaches to AI governance, including how publishers can improve data quality and establish responsible operating models before implementing advanced AI solutions.
Finally, I hope to exchange ideas on regional collaboration among Asian publishers. Although our markets differ, we share many of the same challenges involving copyright, licensing, digital transformation, and workforce development. By sharing practical experiences rather than only discussing technology, we can build more sustainable and human-centered publishing organizations for the AI era.
Connection to Korean Publishing
We have been working with many Korean publishers. Please see the list of Korean publishers below for reference.
- Changbi Publishers
- Jaeum&Moeum
- Sam&Parkers
- Dasan Books
- Namu Bench
- Wisdom House
- Woongjin Think Big
- Clayhouse Inc.
- MUNPIA
- Munhakdongne Publishing
- Influential Inc.
- Kyobo Book Center
- Book21 Publishing Group
- RH Korea Co., Ltd.
- EunHaeng NaMu Publishing Co., Ltd.
- And many more.
Your reasons for applying to Asian Publishers Week 2026.
I am applying to Asian Publishers Week 2026 to engage with forward-thinking industry leaders and exchange actionable strategies for navigating the AI-driven transformation in the publishing sector. As a Managing Editor leading a diverse team of 13 at a leading Thai publishing house with a 30-year legacy, I am currently steering our transition into this new era. My primary focus is balancing operational efficiency—utilizing AI for backend workflows—with the strict preservation of human creative integrity, which I am actively championing through our “AI Detection Project.”
However, the rapid pace of technological change brings shared regional challenges, particularly in managing international copyright compliance and addressing staff anxiety toward AI adoption. I see this fellowship as a vital opportunity to learn how fellow Asian publishers are empowering their editorial workforce, mitigating legal risks, and adapting their business models.
By participating, I aim to share Thailand’s unique market perspectives, absorb regional best practices, and return with concrete frameworks to cultivate a future-ready, human-centric publishing culture at my company. Ultimately, I am eager to build lasting professional networks that will drive the Asian publishing ecosystem forward.
Your Company Profile Amarin Corporations PCL.
Company / Organization Name: Amarin Corporations Public Company Limited
Address: 378 Chaiyaphruek Road, Taling Chan Sub-district, Taling Chan District, Bangkok 10170
Number of Employees: 2,000 Employees
Specialty / Area of Focus: AMARIN GROUP has become an omni-media firm with its businesses covering On Print, Online, On Air, On Ground and On Shop platforms.
Amarin Corporations Public Company Limited is Thailand’s leading publishing and media enterprise, with nearly five decades of experience creating trusted content for diverse generations. Founded in 1976 with the launch of Baan Lae Suan magazine, we have continuously evolved from a traditional publisher into a fully integrated Omni-Media ecosystem operating across publishing, retail, television, digital media, events, e-commerce, and intellectual property development.
Through our extensive portfolio, we play a vital role in promoting reading culture and supporting Thailand’s creative economy. Our strength lies in a comprehensive, end-to-end publishing ecosystem:
Diverse Editorial Reach: We house 22 distinct imprints that cover a complete spectrum of genres—including fiction, translated literature, essays, and non-fiction—catering to all demographics and reading preferences.
End-to-End Production: We operate our own printing facilities and manage a robust warehousing and distribution network, ensuring complete quality control from manuscript to physical book.
Omnichannel Retail Presence: Our extensive retail footprint includes 22 “Naiin” bookstore branches, alongside a strong, nationwide network of partner booksellers.
Multi-Platform Reading: We meet modern readers exactly where they are, delivering content seamlessly across all formats—from traditional print books and e-books to chapter-based digital reading platforms.
As we navigate the modern publishing landscape, we are thoughtfully integrating technology and AI into our backend workflows to support this massive operation. Rather than overstating AI as a creative replacement, we utilize it as an operational co-pilot for our editorial and marketing teams. By combining our rich literary heritage, unparalleled infrastructure, and practical tech adoption, Amarin Group remains steadfast in delivering precious experiences that foster a lifelong learning society.