{
  "id": 1538965,
  "title": "Hidden Airtag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hidden-airtag-reveals-amazon-is-trashing-rare-books-to-train-ai-1538965",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-17T18:13:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica Policy",
    "slug": "ars-technica-policy",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/hidden-airtag-reveals-amazon-is-trashing-rare-books-to-train-ai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For the past year, booksellers have suspected that AI firms are purchasing vast quantities of rare books and subsequently destroying them after scanning to train AI models. This theory remained unproven until 404 Media reported on a hidden Airtag found in a rare book, which traced the book's journey to an Amazon AI training facility in Las Vegas. The facility houses a team dedicated to dismantling books and digitizing their pages. The shocking revelation was accompanied by a T-Rex logo on the warehouse door, depicting the prehistoric creature poised to devour a book. Amazon has remained silent on the matter, offering only a vague statement regarding the findings.",
  "summary": "Amazon’s team uses a T. rex preparing to devour a book as its logo.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica",
        "title": "Hidden Airtag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hidden-airtag-reveals-amazon-is-trashing-rare-books-to-train-ai",
        "published": "2026-08-17T18:13:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}