Support WRUR

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

The Route signal faces daytime interruptions this week due to tower maintenance work. You can continue to listen to The Route online.

Why tech companies are buying up tons of rare old books to train their AI models

NPR | By Erika Ryan,

Juana Summers, Mallory Yu

Published August 19, 2026 at 5:13 PM EDT

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

NPR's Juana Summers speaks with 404 Media cofounder and reporter Emanuel Maiberg about his investigation into a shipment of rare books which ended up at an Amazon AI training warehouse.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Erika Ryan

Erika Ryan is a producer for All Things Considered.

Juana Summers

Juana Summers is a host of NPR's All Things Considered.

See stories by Juana Summers

Mallory Yu

Mallory Yu is an associate producer for All Things Considered.

See stories by Mallory Yu