Tech· August 15, 2026 at 11:25 a.m.
Mysterious Bulk Orders of Secondhand Books Suggest AI Training
Key takeaways
- Secondhand book sales are booming
- Mysterious bulk orders of secondhand books are suspected to be used for AI training
- Potential waste and disruption of the secondhand book market due to these mysterious orders
Secondhand book sales have seen a surge, leading to speculation about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this trend. Booksellers have reported receiving unusual large orders that are believed to be destined for AI training purposes, only to end up pulped afterwards. This raises concerns about the waste and potential impact on the secondhand book market.
