Discover the world of self-publishing in Australia with Author Services Australia and the impact AI is having on the book world!
Self-publishing in Australia in 2026 is alive and well, with more Australian authors than ever putting pen to paper and committing to self-publishing their first book. However, the growing popularity of AI-based writing tools has made it both easier and harder for authors to self-publish a book in Australia and worldwide.
I want to be clear from the start. I’m not condemning the use of AI tools when authors use them as tools. However, it’s clear that some people are simply using AI tools to generate entire books, lock, stock, and barrel, cover and interior, then dumping them on Amazon KDP or other self-publishing sites en masse.
While I, and many other authors, are hopeful that the cream will rise to the top, like history has proven time and time again in the publishing world, only time will tell. A lot will largely depend on how sites like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark Publishing manage AI-content, and how readers and customers support AI-books. After all, if a book doesn’t sell, self-publishing platforms don’t make any money, so it’s not in their long-term interest for the current model to change too much.
Let’s dive into the impact AI programs are having on the self-publishing world.
At Author Services Australia, we support Australian and New Zealand self-published authors and writers with a full range of affordable self-publishing services, including ghostwriting, copyediting, developmental editing, proofreading, ebook and paperback formatting, book cover design, children’s book illustrations, graphic design services, Amazon KDP Keyword and Category Research, animated book cover reveal videos, beta reading, and social media and marketing.
The Impact of AI within the Self-Publishing Environment
There’s no denying that AI-created books are flooding traditional self-publishing platforms such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. However, while there is definitely a noticeable increase in AI-books and a lot of doom and gloom out there, it’s not the end of the world.
Not yet anyway.
Remember, when Amazon first started offering self-publishing options, including their POD (print-on-demand) services via CreateSpace in 2005-2008, traditional publishers and authors were concerned then, too.
When ebooks launched and gained popularity early in 2007, our newsfeeds were filled with doom predictions for the end of physical books as we knew them. However, physical copies of books are still going extremely well, even as ebooks slowly close the gap.
New Self-Published Book Releases Skyrocketed in 2025-2026
Recently, Bowker announced that in 2025, over 4 million new books were published, of which over 3.5 million were self-published. That’s not to say all of these used AI assistance, but it would be interesting to know how many did.
While many people attribute this increase to AI, Andrew Kovaks, the product marketing manager for Bowker, has other possibilities.
“The fact that every aspect of the publishing process, once available only through traditional publishers, can now be obtained from the self-publishing service providers at a comparable level of quality” could contribute to the increase in new titles, Kovacs said. New book releases were also down in 2023 and 2024, so this could also be a natural rebound.
Self-Publishing and AI Use on Amazon KDP and IngramSpark
Both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark require authors to declare whether any AI programs were used in creating their books during the file upload and publishing stages.
Amazon KDP has a simple question: “Was any AI program used in the creation of this book?” You check yes or no. Amazon KDP currently limits authors to 3 self-published books containing AI content per day. You can learn more about Amazon KDP’s AI policy here.
IngramSpark Publishing currently doesn’t limit authors to the number of AI-related books they can self-publish. Still, it has a strict quality control process to ensure that all titles, including those that use AI tools, meet its catalogue quality standards. You can learn more about IngramSpark’s AI focus here.
2026 Self-Publishing Trends FAQs
Is traditional publishing still an option in 2026? – Yes, but it’s not getting any easier to land a traditional self-publishing deal. Traditional publishing was always difficult, with only a fraction of authors ever achieving any success, but AI has made that even harder. Now, traditional publishers have to filter through not only an increase in submissions but also do their due diligence on AI-generated content.
How is AI affecting the publishing industry? – AI-tools are enabling authors to self-publish titles at a much faster pace than ever before, which has led to a huge increase in the number of new books being published in 2025/2026.
Will self-publishing platforms control AI-books? – Currently, Amazon KDP limits authors to publishing 3 books per day. IngramSpark Publishing hasn’t enforced any limits yet. However, both platforms, and IngramSpark in particular, are keeping a close eye on AI books, especially regarding quality, content, and copyright issues.
Self-Publishing In Australia In 2026 | Conclusion
There is no denying the publishing industry is going through some serious changes. Should that stop you from publishing your book? No. Should you research your publishing pathway and take careful steps to avoid pitfalls and mistakes? Absolutely.
Whether you’re planning to self-publish a book or go the traditionally published route, it’s going to be both an investment of time and money and a lot of work. Remember, the cream always floats to the top, and like the cream, great books will always outlast terrible books.
If you have any questions about the self-publishing process, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you’re currently considering self-publishing and you’re not sure which is the best self-publishing platform for you, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark Publishing, or others, check out The Best Self-Publishing Platforms to Publish Your Book! We cover the pros and cons of Australia’s most popular self-publishing platforms.
