Secondhand booksellers in the UK and Ireland are experiencing a surge in bulk orders from unidentified buyers, raising suspicions that AI companies are acquiring these books for data purposes. Orders have been noted for a wide variety of titles, often lacking a coherent theme, and some sellers have reported receiving thousands of books since January, with buyers paying premium prices.
Booksellers should monitor the evolving patterns of these bulk orders, as they may indicate a shift in how AI firms source training data. The implications for the secondhand book market could be significant, potentially leading to increased demand for specific genres or titles.