In a remarkable twist in the world of literature, secondhand book sales are experiencing an extraordinary boom, with independent booksellers reporting unprecedented bulk orders. As the digital age continues to reshape how we consume information, many suspect that the increased demand is linked to the rising needs of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This unexpected development raises questions about the future of books and the ethical implications of their use in AI training.
A Surge in Sales: What’s Behind the Boom?
Independent booksellers are witnessing a remarkable surge in sales, with some reporting orders that dwarf their typical weekly transactions. Take Stuart Manley, for example, the owner of Barter Books in Northumberland. In a typical week, he sells around two to three thousand books. Recently, however, he received a single bulk order from a Canadian company that matched what he would normally sell in an entire week. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my 30 years in the secondhand book trade,” he remarked.
Manley isn’t alone in his astonishment. Booksellers globally are echoing similar experiences, noting that these large-scale purchases are likely not destined for the hands of eager readers but for something with a voracious thirst for knowledge: AI systems.
The Legal Landscape: AI and Copyright
The connection between the booming secondhand book sales and AI can be traced back to a pivotal court ruling in the United States. In 2025, a judge determined that using books acquired through secondhand purchases to train AI software does not violate US copyright law. This verdict stemmed from a lawsuit filed by three authors against the AI firm Anthropic. The judge stated that the firm’s use of the authors’ books was “exceedingly transformative,” thus falling within legal boundaries.
Recent revelations from court documents indicate that some books were being destroyed during the training of Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude. A spokesperson for the company explained that while they utilise a variety of data for training, including publicly available web content and commercially acquired datasets, they assured that no rare or antiquarian books were being destroyed in the process. Nevertheless, the thought of books meeting an untimely end has sparked considerable concern among booksellers.
The Dark Side of Data Acquisition: Destructive Scanning
Internal documents from the Anthropic case introduced a project dubbed “Project Panama,” which aimed to perform “destructive scanning” on a vast scale. This process involves shipping books to locations where they are digitised by removing their spines for rapid scanning, with the remaining materials often recycled.
As Manley noted, “There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Project Panama. While I’m not aware that my books are being purchased for it, the unusual sales patterns are difficult to explain.” He pointed out that the orders seem random, spanning from obscure Latin texts to cowboy novels. Experts suggest that the diverse range of subject matter indicates AI’s appetite for unique and rare texts, which can enhance the training of large language models that power generative AI technologies.
Ethical Dilemmas: The Booksellers’ Perspective
Booksellers find themselves at a crossroads, grappling with the ethical implications of their sales. While they appreciate the increased business, there’s a palpable unease surrounding the potential destruction of books. David Tobin, who runs Walden Books in north London, expressed mixed feelings: “It’s lovely to sell titles that haven’t moved in years, but it would be heartbreaking if they ultimately faced destruction.”
Derek Walker, owner of Edinburgh’s McNaughtan’s, highlighted the complexity of the situation. “Not every title needs to be saved,” he noted, citing recent academic texts that may not hold significant value if destroyed. However, he emphasised the gravity of losing historically significant editions, which would be a considerable loss.
Despite these concerns, some booksellers view the recycling of unwanted books as a pragmatic solution. Manley offered a balanced perspective, stating, “The world doesn’t need five million copies of *The Da Vinci Code*. I’ve had books listed online for 20 years that have only recently found buyers.”
Why it Matters
The ongoing surge in secondhand book sales tied to AI training not only highlights the transformative impact of technology on our literary landscape but also raises crucial ethical questions about the future of books. As AI continues to evolve, the fate of countless volumes hangs in the balance, prompting urgent discussions about preservation, copyright, and the value of literature in an increasingly digital world. As we navigate this complex terrain, the need for a thoughtful approach to the intersection of technology and the written word has never been more pressing.
