● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Japanese Used Bookstores See Sales Surge from AI Companies Scanning and Destroying Books
Key points
- Japanese used book sales increased fivefold.
- AI companies buy books in bulk for scanning.
- Books are destroyed after scanning.
- A 50-ton order went to Anthropic in the U.S.
AI Companies Fueling Book Sales Surge
Used bookstores in Japan are reporting a significant increase in sales, with some experiencing a fivefold surge. This boom is attributed to bulk purchases by foreign AI technology companies. These companies are acquiring hundreds or even tons of used books, often directing shipments to a logistics center in Okayama Prefecture.
Scanning and Destruction Process
The purchased books are suspected to be scanned for AI training purposes and subsequently pulped. This practice mirrors similar activities reported in the U.S. and Europe, where AI companies scan and destroy millions of books. One notable instance includes a 50-ton consignment of Japanese books shipped to the U.S. for Anthropic's scanning process.
Shifting Purchase Patterns
The buying patterns of these bulk purchasers indicate their intent. While novels and comics were previously popular, the new orders focus on genres like philosophy, history, political history, medicine, law, and cultural topics such as 'life and culture in the Edo period.' This shift suggests a targeted acquisition of diverse textual data for AI models.
Concerns Among Bookstore Owners
Despite the immediate sales boost, used bookstore owners express mixed feelings. There are concerns about the long-term availability of stock and pricing if large quantities of used books are permanently removed from circulation. The trend also raises moral questions regarding the removal of important cultural works from public access.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Japanese used bookstores are experiencing a fivefold sales increase due to bulk purchases by AI companies, which are scanning and then destroying the books. This trend raises concerns about the removal of cultural works from circulation and the long-term impact on the used book market. A 50-ton shipment of Japanese books was sent to the U.S. for Anthropic's scanning process.