GermanyThe article reports on unusual bulk orders placed by antiquaries in Germany, where customers are purchasing large quantities of 'Ladenhüter'—books that are still in good condition but have little current interest. These orders are suspected to be linked to companies training artificial intelligence systems. The purchases are made through an online service called Zoom Books, with deliveries initially sent to Canada due to high shipping and customs costs. Antiquarians note that these orders come at odd hours and are paid for via prepayment. One seller, Urban Zerfaß, suspects that these orders are being made by AI developers, as the selection of books appears too arbitrary. The orders then change their delivery address to Germany, prompting urgent action from the antiquary to process and ship the books. Similar patterns are reported by other book dealers, suggesting a broader trend.
Bias read (Center): While the topic involves potential implications for intellectual property and data usage, which could be politically sensitive, the article presents the situation neutrally without overtly favoring any particular political stance. It focuses on the economic impact and operational challenges faced by
