The Rise of AI Companies and the Destruction of Physical Books
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a novelty but a driving force in many sectors. However, a worrying trend is emerging: AI companies are turning to physical books, not to read them, but to destroy them. These books are shredded to be digitized and used as training data for language models. This process particularly threatens rare books, which are often targeted first due to their unique content.
Why Physical Books?
AI companies seek rich and varied data sources to improve the accuracy and diversity of their models. Books, especially those not digitized, offer a wealth of vocabulary, style, and historical knowledge that cannot be fully captured by existing digital content. According to a 2023 survey, about 80% of books published before 2000 remain undigitized.
Impact on Literary Heritage
The destruction of physical books has significant implications for literary heritage. Rare books, often in limited quantities, risk disappearing forever. Libraries and archives, already struggling with reduced budgets, are often unable to compete with large tech companies that can afford to acquire these books in bulk.
Digitization Initiatives for Preservation
In response to this threat, several initiatives are underway to digitize and preserve rare books. Projects like Google Books, although controversial, have already digitized over 25 million books. Other organizations, such as the World Digital Library, work with cultural institutions to digitize unpublished works.
How Can We Act?
As entrepreneurs and decision-makers, it is crucial to support digitization and preservation projects. Investing in advanced digitization technologies can help preserve these books for future generations. Moreover, promoting a legal framework that protects rare books from unnecessary destruction is important.
Conclusion
Proactive digitization of rare books is a necessity to protect our literary heritage against AI companies. By collaborating with libraries, archives, and tech partners, we can find a balance between technological innovation and cultural preservation. Let's discuss your project in 15 minutes.