A curious phenomenon is unfolding in the realm of secondhand books, as independent booksellers worldwide are witnessing an unprecedented surge in bulk orders that seem to point towards a surprising culprit: artificial intelligence. In recent months, these retailers have been inundated with requests for vast quantities of novels, leading to speculation that AI’s insatiable appetite for information could be reshaping the book trade as we know it.
A Surge in Sales
Stuart Manley, proprietor of Barter Books in Northumberland, is no stranger to the ebb and flow of the literary market. Typically, he might sell between two to three thousand books a week. However, a recent order from a Canadian company matched his weekly sales in one fell swoop. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my 30 years in the second-hand book trade,” he remarked, echoing a sentiment shared by booksellers across the globe who are experiencing similar spikes in demand.
But where are these books ending up? The consensus among booksellers is that they are likely not headed for the hands of eager readers overseas. Instead, there’s a growing suspicion that they are being sourced for training AI models, which require vast amounts of text to function effectively.
The Legal Landscape of AI and Books
The notion that AI is fuelling this secondhand book boom can be traced back to a landmark court ruling in the United States from 2025. A judge determined that using purchased books to train AI software did not infringe upon US copyright law. This ruling stemmed from a lawsuit involving the AI company Anthropic and three authors. Judge William Alsup deemed the usage of these books “exceedingly transformative,” thus allowing it under US regulations.
Recently unsealed court documents revealed that some books were being destroyed in the process of training Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude. A spokesperson for the company clarified that while they utilise a mix of publicly available data and commercially acquired datasets, the sourcing of books for training is standard practice in the AI industry. “None of our data acquisition programmes buy and destroy rare or antiquarian books,” they assured.
However, the notion of books being pulped is understandably causing concern among booksellers. David Tobin, who runs Walden Books in north London, expressed mixed feelings: “It’s lovely to sell titles that haven’t moved for years, but it would be heartbreaking if they are ultimately destroyed.”
The Controversy of Destructive Scanning
Internal communications, revealed in the Anthropic case, referred to the project of digitising old books as “Project Panama.” This initiative involves what is termed as “destructive scanning,” where books are sent to facilities where they can be rapidly digitised. This process often entails removing a book’s spine to scan pages efficiently, leading to the remains being recycled.
Stuart Manley expressed his concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding Project Panama. “It’s a mystery,” he said. “The name is new to me, but the reality of the project is something we’ve discussed extensively in bookseller forums.” The randomness of the sales, which range from obscure Latin texts to cowboy novels, further complicates the picture.
Experts suggest that such a diverse array of titles is indicative of AI’s needs, as unique and rare texts can help enhance the training of large language models, the backbone of generative AI tools like chatbots. Professor Emily Hudson, an intellectual property specialist at Oxford University, added that UK copyright laws differ significantly from those in the US, requiring clearance from copyright owners before any copying or training can take place.
Ethical Dilemmas for Booksellers
The surge in secondhand book sales presents a moral quandary for booksellers. Many feel uneasy about the prospect of books being destroyed, even while acknowledging that not every title holds immense value. Derek Walker, owner of McNaughtan’s in Edinburgh, noted that while some rare academic texts may not be a great loss if destroyed, the potential loss of unique 18th-century editions would indeed be devastating.
Despite these ethical concerns, some booksellers like Manley see a silver lining. “Recycling books is a sensible solution for titles that the public no longer wants, especially if it leads to a boost in trade,” he stated. He also pointed out that the world doesn’t necessarily need millions of copies of popular titles like *The Da Vinci Code* sitting unsold.
Why it Matters
The remarkable rise in secondhand book sales, potentially propelled by the demands of AI, highlights a significant shift in the literary landscape. As the lines between technology and traditional bookselling blur, the implications for authors, publishers, and booksellers are profound. This trend raises critical questions about the future of literature, the preservation of rare texts, and the ethical responsibilities of an industry navigating the complexities of a digital age. As we embrace the advantages of AI, we must also safeguard the rich heritage that these books represent, ensuring that their stories continue to be told and cherished.
