Book Sellers Alarmed as AI Giants Shred Millions of Books

AI companies like Anthropic have been scanning millions of printed books for training datasets, subsequently destroying the original copies. This practice, revealed through court documents and termed AI ‘book shredding,’ has drawn criticism from booksellers and cultural preservationists who view it as a significant loss of cultural artifacts. While the books are not always rare or antiquarian, the systematic destruction raises concerns about the long-term impact on human knowledge and culture.

• AI companies are scanning millions of printed books to train artificial intelligence models.
• The original books are then shredded and destroyed after scanning.
• This practice, known as AI ‘book shredding,’ has caused alarm among booksellers and cultural preservationists.
• While not always rare books, the destruction is seen as a cultural loss.
• Practices like Project Panama by Anthropic aim to collect and retain ‘all the books in the world’ forever.
• Lack of transparency makes it difficult to track who is acquiring these books and for what purpose.
• Some booksellers have noticed unusual spikes in orders for older or obscure books, potentially related to AI data acquisition.
• Efforts are underway to create AI-powered platforms for cataloging used and rare books to promote preservation.
• Public trust in AI’s responsible use is low, with many Americans concerned about its potential harm.
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