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Is Amazon buying and destroying large amounts of books to train AI? Unpacking the claim

There is no concrete evidence that Amazon is buying and destroying large amounts of books for AI training.

Business Technology Last checked Sep 19, 2026

Key points

  • The claim lacks specific sources or details to substantiate the allegations.
  • Amazon has not publicly confirmed such practices, nor have credible reports emerged supporting them.
  • Book publishers and authors have not reported widespread book destruction by Amazon.

Explanation

The claim that Amazon is buying and destroying large amounts of books for AI training lacks concrete evidence. While it's known that companies like Amazon use data from various sources to train their AI models, there are no verified reports or statements from the company confirming such practices with regard to book destruction on a significant scale. Book publishers and authors have not reported widespread book destruction by Amazon. The claim appears to be based on speculation rather than factual information.