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AI & Machine Learning

AI Firm Destroys Millions of Books for Data

WireByte Staff · August 8, 2026

ISBNdb, a company tracking book data, has been accused of destroying millions of books to create AI training data. The firm used a destructive scanning process, slicing book spines and recycling the pages. The move has sparked outrage, with critics arguing it's a publicity nightmare for AI companies.

Key points

  • ISBNdb, a company that tracks book data, offered AI training data from its 'world's largest book database' with a focus on books published before 2022.
  • The company used a destructive scanning process to create the data, slicing book spines and recycling the pages, which has sparked outrage.
  • ISBNdb admitted that destroying millions of books 'evokes images of burning libraries' and is a 'publicity problem' for AI companies.
  • The move has raised concerns about the ethics of using books as a data source for AI training, with some arguing it's a wasteful and unnecessary practice.

The AI industry has been accused of alienating book lovers by destroying millions of books to create training data. ISBNdb, a company that tracks book data, has been at the center of the controversy. The firm offered AI training data from its 'world's largest book database', which included books published before 2022.

The company used a destructive scanning process to create the data, slicing book spines and recycling the pages. This move has sparked outrage among book lovers and critics who argue it's a publicity nightmare for AI companies. ISBNdb admitted that destroying millions of books 'evokes images of burning libraries' and is a 'publicity problem' for AI companies.

The move has raised concerns about the ethics of using books as a data source for AI training. Some argue it's a wasteful and unnecessary practice that could have been avoided with alternative methods. The incident has also highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability in the AI industry.

As the AI industry continues to grow, it's essential to consider the impact of its practices on the environment and society. The destruction of millions of books is a stark reminder of the need for responsible and sustainable practices in the industry.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.