2026-10-28 / Signal #1
Macmillan threw a doughnut party for an AI assistant — then killed it
“They threw a party for the intern. The intern was a chatbot. Then they killed it.”
The Story
Macmillan staff say HQ once greeted “NOA” (“No Ordinary Assistant”) with purple balloons, marquee letters, and doughnuts spelling “NOA IS HERE.” Human assistants found the name offensive; workers say the bot was unhelpful, got sunset in October 2025, and Gemini later produced “useless” reads of agent submissions. Bestselling authors told WIRED AI is also wrecking their relationships with Big Five houses.
Why It Matters
A publishing house staged a new-hire party for software, then held a quiet funeral. The sacred object is the doughnut plate. This is culture, work, art, and identity in one cafeteria.
Evidence
WIRED (Adam Morgan), Oct 28, 2026
Sources
Daily scan: 2026-10-28