TL;DR
- Barnes & Noble CEO supports AI-written books.
- AI books must be clearly labeled.
- Company has opened 67 new stores recently.
- Daunt emphasizes community and acceptance.
- Booksellers are a global tribe.
In a world where technology is reshaping every industry, the book publishing sector is no exception. Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt has his finger on the pulse of this transformation, especially with the rise of AI-written books. While some may raise an eyebrow at the thought of a robot author, Daunt is ready to embrace the future—provided it comes with a clear label.
Taking the helm in 2019, Daunt faced a daunting task. Barnes & Noble was struggling to compete with online giants like Amazon, and the once-mighty bookseller was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Fast forward to today, and the chain is experiencing a renaissance, with 67 new stores opening in 2025 and plans for another 60 this year. Talk about a comeback!
During a recent chat with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager as part of NBC News’ “Business in America” series, Daunt made it clear: he has no qualms about stocking AI-written books in his stores. “I have actually no problem selling any book, as long as it doesn’t masquerade or pretend to be something that it isn’t,” he stated. The key? Transparency. AI-written books need to be clearly labeled as such, ensuring that readers know what they’re getting into.
“As long as an AI-written book says it’s an AI-written book and doesn’t pretend to be something else and isn’t ripping off somebody else, as long as that’s clearly stated and the customer wants to buy it, then we will stock them,” Daunt added. Sounds fair enough, right? After all, who wouldn’t want to know if their next read was penned by a machine?
Interestingly, Daunt hinted that some AI-written titles might already be lurking among the 300,000 books in their stores. “Do we think that some of those may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we’re not really conscious of them,” he admitted. Talk about a plot twist!
Despite the rise of AI, Daunt remains optimistic about the future of bookstores. He believes that the essence of being a bookseller is to foster acceptance, tolerance, and kindness within communities. “We are … in a fairly difficult political moment, social moment. And I think one of the vocational essences of being a bookseller is that you sit within your communities as a place of acceptance and tolerance and kindness,” he said.
As technology continues to evolve, Daunt’s commitment to the human touch in bookselling is refreshing. He sees bookstores as vital cultural hubs, where creativity and community thrive. “People will read digitally and people listen to audiobooks and all the rest, but the book and the creativity of authors and the effective cultural dynamism that goes alongside books will remain. Bookstores will be part of that,” he assured.
So, as we stand on the brink of a new era in publishing, one thing is clear: Barnes & Noble is ready to adapt and thrive. Whether you’re a fan of AI-written books or prefer the traditional touch of a human author, one thing’s for sure—this is a conversation worth having. And who knows? The next bestseller might just come from a computer. Are you ready for it?
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