Story perspectives

AI firm suspected of destructively scanning £4,000 UK book orders

8/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

Bulk orders of titles have arrived at UK and Irish bookstores, which sellers suspect come from AI firms.
Stuart Manley of Barter Books said the orders began three months ago and total about £4,000.
Jim Shaughnessy of MW Books reported orders since May that include agricultural implements and racing-driver biographies.
Anthropic’s “Project Panama,” described in court filings, is buying and destructively scanning pre-2022 books, spending tens of millions of dollars.

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Story summary

Bulk orders of titles have arrived at UK and Irish bookstores, which sellers suspect come from AI firms.
Stuart Manley of Barter Books said the orders began three months ago and total about £4,000.
Jim Shaughnessy of MW Books reported orders since May that include agricultural implements and racing-driver biographies.
Anthropic’s “Project Panama,” described in court filings, is buying and destructively scanning pre-2022 books, spending tens of millions of dollars.