AI Firms Drive 7-Day Book Orders, Destroying Copies to Train Models
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 15
AI Firms Drive 7-Day Book Orders, Destroying Copies to Train Models
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 15
Summary
Secondhand booksellers report bulk purchases far above normal levels, including one Canadian order at Barter Books equal to a full week’s sales.
Court documents unsealed last month tied that surge to AI training, showing Anthropic’s “Project Panama” aimed to destructively scan books by cutting off spines, digitizing pages and recycling the remains.
A 2025 US ruling by Judge William Alsup found training AI on legally purchased books was not copyright infringement, helping legitimize the practice; Anthropic says commercially acquired books are a common industry source.
Booksellers say the random mix of obscure Latin texts, cowboy novels and long-unsold titles suggests AI demand, but they worry rare works could be lost if destroyed.
UK copyright law may be stricter than the US approach, with Oxford’s Emily Hudson saying copying for training generally requires permission from the copyright owner.