Inside the Warehouse Where Amazon Scans and Destroys Books For AI Training

In a recent report by 404 Media, an Amazon warehouse was exposed where books are scanned and subsequently destroyed for the purpose of AI training data. The employee interviewed by 404 Media worked at the VGT3 warehouse, which shares the same complex as LAS8, where Amazon carries out its print-on-demand business. Both operations are located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The employee described the process of book destruction. They explained that each book is placed into a machine, similar to a workstation, and a machine operator cuts off the spines of the books. Afterward, the books are moved to library carts, which resemble how books are stacked, but instead are composed of loose paper and cardboard separators. The pages of the books are then collected and sent to a shuttle for disposal after being scanned.

When asked about Amazon's actions, the employee expressed skepticism about the initial claim that the destruction of books was for Kindle devices. They believed the real reason was for AI training, which they found concerning due to copyright issues and the potential loss of rare books. The employee specifically mentioned their concern over the destruction of rare books, as well as the fact that the books cannot be reused afterwards, thus reducing the availability of copies for other readers.