Thursday, August 6, 2026
5 – 6 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Online
Cost: Free
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how we write and read, influencing everything from document drafting and editing to publishing and communications. But what does this transformation look like in practice?
Join UW Professional & Continuing Education for a panel discussion featuring Matthew Bennett, instructor for the AI Essentials for Writers & Editors course and founder of Breakwater Editorial; Ingrid Emerick, instructor for the UW Certificate in Editing and co-founder and CEO of Girl Friday Productions; and David Hirning, technical writer and editor at Microsoft.
Drawing their experiences across editorial workflows, publishing and content creation, they'll share how AI is showing up in their respective fields. They'll discuss emerging opportunities and challenges and explore the skills today's writing, editing, publishing and communications professionals need to remain effective, adaptable and competitive.
Part of our Expert Insights webinar series, this hour-long session offers valuable perspectives from experts working at the intersection of content and technology, along with a clearer understanding of how AI is shaping the future of content creation.
Space is limited to 500 attendees — RSVP soon to save your spot!
Panelists:
Matthew Bennett
Matthew Bennett is a writer, editor and educator. With a B.A. in creative writing, an M.A. in comparative literature and a Ph.D. in English literature, Matthew’s education is grounded in the humanities. Having lived in Ecuador, Argentina, Canada and the U.S., Matthew has broad experience teaching language, literature and philosophy. He has presented his academic and creative writing in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada and published his research in A Cultural History of Race in the Reformation and Enlightenment, 1550–1760 (Bloomsbury, 2021).
Matthew began editing in 2008 at Ronsdale Press. In 2016, he co-founded Cascadia Editors Collective, and in 2026 he launched his solo editing venture Breakwater Editorial to provide editing and artistic guidance for writers. His Pacific Northwest memoir and novel publishing company, Pickle Fork Press, will release its first book in 2027.
Ingrid Emerick
Ingrid Emerick has been in book publishing for more than 20 years. She began her career at Seal Press and during her 12 years there held a range of positions, including publicity director, marketing and sales director, rights director, senior editor, editorial director and associate publisher.
In 2006, she founded Girl Friday Productions, a book development firm, with Leslie Miller. Producing more than 500 books a year for a wide range of clients, Girl Friday has grown to a staff of 22 and a resource partner pool of hundreds. Ingrid has also edited dozens of published books in many genres and is the author of several.
David Hirning
David Hirning holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University and is a graduate of the UW Certificate in Literary Fiction. For more than two decades, he has written and edited content for technology, education and business audiences, with roles at Microsoft, Amazon, the University of Washington and a wide range of freelance clients. David currently serves as a technical writer and editor at Microsoft, creating stories that showcase how the company uses its technologies to operate at global scale.
Disability Accommodations
To request disability accommodations, contact the UW Disability Services Office at least 10 days in advance at 206-543-6450 (voice), 206-685-7264 (fax) or dso@uw.edu.
