Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Dan Milmo Global technology editor

Secondhand booksellers in UK and Ireland suspect AI firms behind ‘strange’ bulk orders

Stuart and Mary Manley smiling as they pose for a photo in their bookshop
‘My theory is that it’s masses and masses of AI money’: Stuart and Mary Manley, the co-owners of Barter Books in Alnwick, Northumberland. Photograph: supplied

Secondhand booksellers in the UK and Ireland are reporting a flurry of bulk orders from mystery buyers, amid speculation AI companies are acquiring the tomes for their data.

Bookshops contacted by the Guardian say they have been receiving orders from buyers in the US, Canada, continental Europe and the UK. The increase has been replicated around the world, with booksellers in the US, Australia and Europe also reporting unusual orders.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.