AI Companies Are Destroying Rare Books
AI companies are scanning and destroying rare books.
1The Fate of Rare Books
AI companies are scanning rare books using high-speed machines, destroying the originals in the process. The spines of the books are cut, and the original copies are shredded. This practice has made pre-2022 books more valuable as they do not contain AI-generated text.
2The Role of ISBNdb
A service called ISBNdb facilitates orders of up to a million books while keeping buyers anonymous. This service accelerates the destruction of rare books by making it easier for AI companies to access them. The company coaches clients to call this practice 'digital preservation.'
3Legal Status
A federal judge ruled that this practice falls under 'fair use,' making the destruction of original books legal. This decision indicates that the process will accelerate, and AI companies will continue to consume rare books at a rapid pace.
4Anthropic's Strategy
Anthropic hired the former head of Google Books partnerships to obtain 'all the books in the world.' This move facilitates the company's access to the data needed for AI training. However, this process leads to the permanent loss of rare books.
5Historical Loss
Rare books that survived wars, fires, and centuries of handling are being shredded so that AI can learn to write a better marketing email. These books cannot be replaced, and their loss signifies the disappearance of a historical heritage.
6Future Scenario
By 2026, 'shredding rare books and offering NDAs so nobody finds out' becomes a legitimate business model. This situation highlights the conflict between the advancement of AI technology and ethical and legal boundaries.
Original article: Hacker News: Front Page — Nadir Kitaplar AI Eğitimi İçin Yok Ediliyor