Amazon reportedly buying books to train AI services, then destroying them
AI companies are purchasing used books in large quantities and then destroying them to use as training material. Amazon has been identified as doing this. The practice raises questions about what should happen to books once they're used for this purpose.
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National story. 11 articles from 11 sources. 10 are on the bar; 1 is an international, entertainment or tech outlet, listed separately. Updated Aug 18, 2026.
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4 sourcesAI companies are buying used books by the thousands. Some may be destroyed for training
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4 sourcesAmazon reportedly buying books to train AI services, then destroying them
AI companies may be gobbling up old books, and I really hope they aren’t destroying them
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2 sourcesOther outlets
International, entertainment and tech outlets, by their rating. Not counted in the bar above. How we count coverage
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1 articleSecondhand booksellers in UK and Ireland suspect AI firms behind ‘strange’ bulk orders
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The story so far
2 developments- Aug 15Only center coverage:Secondhand booksellers in UK and Ireland suspect AI firms behind ‘strange’ bulk orders
- Aug 17Amazon reportedly buying books to train AI services, then destroying them
Who covered each development
No new developments
Quiet for 61 daysLast development · Aug 17 — Amazon reportedly buying books to train AI services, then destroying them