An unexpected phenomenon is sweeping through the realm of secondhand books, with independent booksellers reporting a remarkable increase in bulk purchases. This trend has raised eyebrows and led to speculations that artificial intelligence (AI) may be the driving force behind this surge. From Northumberland to London, bookshops are witnessing a curious influx of orders that could change the landscape of the literary market forever.
Unprecedented Bulk Orders
Stuart Manley, co-owner of Barter Books in Northumberland, usually sells between two to three thousand books in a week. However, one recent order from a Canadian company matched his typical weekly sales in a single transaction. “I’ve never encountered anything like this in my 30 years in the second-hand book trade,” he commented, reflecting the bewilderment felt by many in the industry.
This phenomenon is not limited to just one shop; booksellers globally are experiencing similar patterns, receiving massive orders that seem disconnected from traditional reading habits. The speculation is that these books aren’t heading to enthusiastic readers but rather to entities with an insatiable hunger for data—AI systems.
The Legal Landscape Shaping Book Sales
The speculation surrounding the link between secondhand book sales and AI can be traced back to a significant court ruling in the United States. In 2025, a judge determined that purchasing books for the purpose of training AI software did not violate copyright laws. This landmark decision came after a lawsuit involving the company Anthropic and three authors, where Judge William Alsup characterised the use of their works as “exceedingly transformative.”
Recent revelations from court documents indicated that the process of training Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, involved the destruction of books. A spokesperson for the company clarified that their data acquisition methods are standard across the AI industry and that they do not target rare or antiquarian books. However, the idea that books are being pulped raises ethical concerns among sellers and bibliophiles alike.
The Mystery of Project Panama
Internal communications from Anthropic referred to their initiative of digitising old books as “Project Panama.” This ambitious project involves what is known as “destructive scanning,” which entails removing spines from books to facilitate rapid scanning of pages before recycling the remnants. Manley, while unfamiliar with the specific name, noted that the broader concept has stirred significant discussion among booksellers.
He confessed he has no clear insight into whether his stock is being purchased for such purposes, but the unpredictable nature of the sales—ranging from obscure Latin texts to Western novels—suggests a pattern tied to AI’s diverse training needs.
Ethical Dilemmas for Booksellers
Booksellers now face a moral quandary. While the surge in sales is financially beneficial, many are uncomfortable with the potential destruction of books. David Tobin, owner of Walden Books in North London, expressed mixed feelings about selling long-neglected titles, acknowledging it would be disheartening if they ended up being destroyed.
Derek Walker of McNaughtan’s in Edinburgh added depth to the conversation, suggesting that although not every title holds significant value, the loss of rare editions would be tragic. Walker’s insights reflect a deep-seated concern about what constitutes a loss worth preventing.
“There’s a difference between a recent academic text and a unique 18th-century edition,” he explained. “The latter’s destruction would be a far greater tragedy.”
Despite these worries, Manley noted that recycling unwanted books could be a practical solution, especially if it leads to increased trade. “The world doesn’t need five million copies of The Da Vinci Code,” he quipped, illustrating the paradox at play.
Why it Matters
The surge in secondhand book sales driven by AI demand raises profound questions about the future of literature, copyright, and the ethical treatment of written works. As technology continues to evolve, the implications for booksellers, authors, and the literary canon at large cannot be overlooked. The intersection of commerce and ethics in the digital age will require careful navigation, balancing the need for innovation with a respect for the cultural and historical significance of books. With each new bulk order, the narrative of our relationship with literature and technology continues to unfold, leaving us to ponder what kind of future awaits the written word.
