Rare-Book Sales Surge Amid AI Purchasing Trends and Book Destruction

Secondhand book sales are experiencing growth, partly due to demand from AI companies. Reports indicate that Amazon is purchasing older books and destroying them after scanning, with further orders anticipated to continue into 2024. Civil society organizations are urging the FTC to take action against AI firms regarding this destruction. This trend highlights the tension between technological advancement and preservation of cultural resources, which may impact the market for both physical and digital books. Ordinary investors should be aware of the evolving dynamics in the book market prompted by AI activity.