Barnes & Noble clarifies stance on AI-written books after blowback

Barnes & Noble clarifies stance on AI-written books after blowback

Barnes & Noble clarifies stance on AI-written books after blowback

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-05-20/barnes-noble-boycott-ceo-bookseller-store-will-sell-ai-written-books

Publish Date: 2026-05-20 19:30:00

Source Domain: www.latimes.com

Here is a summary of the article in an unordered list with 5 key points:

  • AI Book Controversy: James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, sparked controversy by suggesting the retailer would stock AI-written books as long as they are labeled appropriately.

  • Backlash: Daunt’s comments caused significant backlash, with numerous authors and former employees urging customers to boycott the bookseller.

  • Clarification from Daunt: Daunt later clarified in statements and interviews with The Times that there is no demand for AI-written books currently, and Barnes & Noble strictly labels and excludes such books to prevent misleading customers.

  • Authors’ Concerns: A large group of authors had previously urged major publishers to avoid releasing AI-generated books, citing ethical concerns about the use and representation of human-created art by AI models.

  • Hachette’s Action: Hachette recently pulled the book “Shy Girl” from publication and Amazon after it was suspected to be AI-generated, emphasizing the publisher’s commitment to original creative works.