PVLF 2025

Tech companies are once again attempting to enter the publishing industry

Microsoft's 8080 Books and ByteDance's 8th Note Press aim to innovate publishing with tech-driven strategies, blending print with digital trends.
on Nov 26, 2024

Recently, two major tech companies revealed that they are entering the print industry, and while it’s nice to see a company shift towards print, I won’t be too optimistic about it. More books are always a positive idea in theory, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve witnessed this scenario before.

The most significant announcement is from Microsoft, which introduced a new imprint called 8080 Books, inspired by a well-known computer chip, aimed at publishing works on science, technology, and business, distributed by Ingram.

The first book from 8080 comes from within Microsoft: Sam Shillace, the company’s Deputy Chief Technology Officer, has authored a book titled No Prize for Pessimism, which covers business and the role of computers in business. Shillace is known as the co-inventor of Google Docs, a tool I frequently use, although I’m not fond of the new AI feature that has recently appeared in the toolbar. Uninvited features in my workspace don’t sit well with me.

On their site, the leaders of 8080—Steve Clayton, Microsoft Vice President of Communications Strategy, and Greg Shaw, Microsoft Senior Director of CEO Communications—pose the question “Why a book imprint?” After a lot of preamble and TED Talk-esque rhetoric about the value of books and how they “offer human intimacy at scale” (which feels like sending a friendly hug to all your LinkedIn connections with a single click), they state:

Our goal is to promote excellent content. We also aim to speed up the publishing process, minimizing the time between the completion of a manuscript and its availability in the market. Our desire is to enhance the spread of knowledge. We are eager and aware of time. Technology has accelerated almost every sector except for publishing.

Here are a few points to consider:

The term “content” raises a huge red flag for me. While I recognize it serves as a broad term, it leads me to uncharitable thoughts that suggest you perceive both diapers and Didion as mere items existing in Adam Smith’s expansive marketplace.

Accelerating the printing and distribution process would indeed be a remarkable achievement! Perhaps they can convert one of those power plants into a domestic printing facility?

“Technology has quickened the pace of almost every industry except publishing”? Evidence required.

In summary, there are several ambitious claims in that paragraph, and we wish them success!

On the other hand, a more promising project in my opinion is ByteDance, another major player in the tech world that owns TikTok, which announced last month its plan to extend its publishing efforts into print. Their imprint, 8th Note Press, has been issuing ebooks and audiobooks for about a year but is partnering with Zando to introduce print editions in stores starting next year.

“Physical books remain overwhelmingly the most favored format, and certainly in certain genres, which we are focusing on, they hold immense significance,” said Jacob Bronstein, 8th Note’s head of editorial and marketing, in a statement to The New York Times. “Thus, we realized we needed to include physical books.”

8th Note’s strategy is to analyze trends emerging on TikTok and base editorial decisions on predicting the discussions on their platform. Consequently, their initial lineup of titles set for print mirrors the types of content you’d find trending on BookTok.

I remain cautious about any business proposal that claims it can manufacture hits, but there’s no denying the possibilities when you integrate algorithms and vertical structures like this.

If you’re experiencing a sense of familiar déjà vu regarding the discussion on whether technology will again revolutionize publishing, you’re not alone. However, at the very least, it will provide plenty of material for lively debates with your crypto-enthusiast cousin this Thanksgiving!