For more than a year, booksellers have suspected that AI companies are buying up large lots of rare books, scanning them, and then destroying the originals to train their AI models. Until now, that suspicion was hard to prove. A new investigation using a hidden Airtag has changed that — and it points directly at Amazon.
According to Ars Technica, 404 Media revealed on Monday that it connected with a bookseller who agreed to plant an Airtag inside a rare book that was part of a bulk order. The Airtag was then tracked to an Amazon AI training facility in Las Vegas.
How the Airtag Investigation Uncovered Amazon's Book Destruction
The investigation marks the first concrete evidence linking a major tech company to the destructive book-scanning practice that booksellers have long suspected. The Airtag's tracking data showed the rare book ended up at a facility where a team is focused on tearing books from their spines and scanning the pages for AI training data.
As reported by NDTV Profit, Amazon reportedly buys large quantities of books for AI training and destroys the originals during the scanning process. The rare book with the hidden Airtag was tracked directly to this operation.
Amazon's Tone-Deaf Logo Adds to the Controversy
The investigation also revealed a detail that appears to ignore the growing backlash over destructive book scanning. The Amazon team's logo features a T. rex preparing to devour a book, according to Ars Technica. The choice of logo has drawn criticism as being tone-deaf to the concerns of booksellers and the public.
"Amazon is buying massive quantities of books, scanning them for AI training data, and destroying them in the process." — Reddit r/technology
The practice raises serious questions about the preservation of rare and valuable books. Booksellers have been worried about this for over a year, but the Airtag investigation provides the first hard proof that a tech giant like Amazon is behind some of these bulk orders.
What This Means for Rare Book Collectors and the AI Industry
This revelation has significant implications for the rare book market. If AI companies are buying up rare books and destroying them, the supply of these books will shrink, potentially driving up prices and making it harder for collectors and researchers to access them.
The investigation also highlights the lengths AI companies will go to in order to secure training data. As the race to advance frontier models intensifies, companies are seeking out vast amounts of text, and rare books represent a valuable source of unique content.
- The Airtag was planted in a rare book that was part of a bulk order
- The tracking device led investigators to an Amazon AI training facility in Las Vegas
- The facility houses a team dedicated to tearing books from their spines and scanning pages
- This is the first concrete proof linking a tech giant to the destructive practice
Our Take: The Cost of AI Training Data Is Too High
To put it plainly, this is a troubling development. Destroying rare books to train AI models is a shortsighted practice that prioritizes corporate progress over cultural preservation. Rare books are not just data — they are pieces of history, often irreplaceable and valuable beyond measure.
In our view, Amazon's approach here is deeply problematic. The company is essentially treating rare books as disposable resources, tearing them apart for AI training data without regard for their cultural or monetary value. The tone-deaf T. rex logo only makes matters worse, signaling a lack of awareness about the seriousness of the issue.
This investigation should serve as a wake-up call. AI companies need to find ethical ways to source training data that do not involve destroying irreplaceable cultural artifacts. Booksellers and collectors should also be wary of bulk orders from unknown buyers, as this practice could become more widespread as the demand for AI training data grows.
The question now is whether Amazon will respond to these findings and whether any action will be taken to stop this destructive practice. For now, the hidden Airtag has exposed a secret that many suspected but could not prove — and it is not a flattering picture.
Sources & References
- Ars Technica — Hidden Airtag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI
- NDTV Profit — Hidden tracker reveals Amazon mass scans, shred books just to feed AI
- Reddit r/technology — We tracked a shipment of rare books, it ended at Amazon
- Ars Technica on X — Hidden Airtag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI
