Waterstones to Stock AI-Generated Books If Clearly Labelled Amid Industry Concerns
Waterstones has announced it would stock AI-generated books if they are clearly labelled and if there is customer demand. James Daunt, CEO of Waterstones and newly appointed chief executive of Barnes & Noble, stated he does not expect AI-generated books to be widely sold, emphasizing that the ultimate decision rests with readers. Currently, Waterstones uses AI for logistics purposes but aims to keep AI-generated content out of its stores unless clearly identified.
Daunt highlighted a shift towards empowering local store managers, moving away from the historic practice—phased out in 2011—where publishers paid for prominent in-store displays, making the bookstores more store-led. Speculation surrounds a potential joint float of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, though the viability of a London IPO remains uncertain.
Financially, Waterstones reported profits of £33 million on sales of £528 million in 2024. The group is part of Elliott Advisers, with stable including Foyles and Blackwell's.
The emergence of AI-generated content has also raised concerns among authors. A Cambridge University study found that more than half of authors fear being replaced by AI, and two-thirds report their work has been used without permission to train AI systems.
