Galway bookseller Tomás Kenny has raised concerns that a recent large-scale order of books may have been placed for artificial intelligence training purposes. The order, which arrived in May, consisted of several thousand books, many of which appeared to be outdated or of poor quality. Titles included three-decade-old driving test manuals and a guide to the Celtic Tiger financial scheme known as the Special Savings Incentive Account (SSIA). Mr Kenny described the selection as “scattergun,” suggesting a lack of specific focus or purpose. Mr Kenny, who runs the family-owned bookshop Kennys, initially thought the order might be from a library or educational institution. Such orders are common, often coming through third-party platforms where the buyer’s identity remains anonymous. However, as his team began preparing the shipment, they noticed inconsistencies. The range of books seemed random, with a heavy emphasis on non-fiction titles that appeared obsolete or irrelevant to modern readers. While Mr Kenny does not have conclusive proof, he believes the order could be related to AI development. He stated, “That's the suspicion, very obviously.” This speculation comes amid growing discussions around the use of copyrighted materials in AI training models. The issue has sparked legal battles and regulatory scrutiny globally. The bookseller noted that such unusual orders are not isolated. Over the past few months, he has observed similar patterns flagged by other book retailers in countries such as Sweden and Germany. These reports suggest a broader trend, possibly linked to the increasing demand for vast datasets used in AI training. Online shopping has further complicated matters, reducing the number of independent bookstores and making it harder to track the origins of such orders. Kennys, which celebrated its 85th anniversary last year, maintains one of the oldest books websites in the world. Its extensive catalog makes it a target for bulk purchases, especially those that appear to lack clear intent. Despite the challenges posed by digital retail, the store continues to operate as a key player in the Irish literary scene. The controversy surrounding AI and copyright has reached new heights following a landmark case involving Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI model. A U.S. federal judge recently approved a historic €1.3 billion copyright class-action settlement against the company. The lawsuit alleged that Anthropic had trained its AI on over 500,000 pirated books, violating intellectual property rights. Eligible authors and publishers are set to receive approximately €2,600 per qualifying title. This legal action underscores the ongoing debate over how AI systems are developed and the ethical implications of using copyrighted works without authorization. While the specifics of the case remain under court review, the precedent it sets could influence future disputes involving AI and intellectual property. As the conversation around AI ethics continues to evolve, cases like the one involving Kennys highlight the complex intersection of technology, commerce, and law. Bookstores, once central to cultural life, now find themselves navigating an increasingly digital landscape where traditional business models face unprecedented challenges. For now, Mr Kenny remains vigilant, monitoring further developments and hoping for clarity on the true purpose behind the mysterious order.
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