Istanbul: Claims that artificial intelligence companies are purchasing books in bulk from secondhand bookstores across Europe for scanning and AI training have ignited debates among booksellers, publishers, and readers. However, a seasoned Turkish antiquarian bookseller, Nedret Isli, owner of Turkuaz Sahaf, asserts that there is scant evidence to support the notion that this practice is prevalent.
According to Anadolu Agency, Isli expressed his skepticism regarding the reports that AI firms are depleting the shelves of antiquarian bookstores. “I’ve been researching this from every angle, speaking with booksellers and collectors in both the UK and the Netherlands,” Isli stated. “They told me this has not become a major issue in Europe. A friend living in the Netherlands also said the practice is neither widespread nor the subject of any significant public debate.”
Isli further argued that the claims suggesting AI companies purchase, scan, and subsequently destroy rare books do not align with economic logic.
“These companies exist to make money,” he noted. “Why would they buy a book, scan it, and then destroy it?” He explained that secondhand bookstores mainly stock out-of-print or scarce printed books, many of which are already available in libraries, universities, and research institutes globally.
He emphasized that if such a phenomenon exists, it is driven by conditions unique to Europe rather than Trkiye’s secondhand book market. “Because copies of these printed books are already preserved in major collections, it doesn’t seem logical to me that companies would destroy the copies they acquire,” Isli added.
Regarding handwritten manuscripts, Isli stated that genuinely rare works are already held by major institutions. He pointed to historical events post-World War II when many European libraries and research centers were dispersed, and significant collections were transferred to institutions in the U.S. and elsewhere. He cited the example of German-born antiquarian bookseller Hans Peter Kraus, who acquired n
umerous valuable books and manuscripts from Europe, selling them to American libraries and research institutions.
Isli remarked that finding an unknown manuscript in a European bookstore today is exceedingly rare. “When such a work does appear, it becomes a major event,” he said. He asserted that purchasing such works solely for digitization and destruction is commercially unjustifiable. “That simply doesn’t fit with a capitalist business model,” he concluded.
Isli also reflected on why these reports have resonated strongly in Trkiye, attributing it to the country’s sensitivity toward cultural heritage. “We are highly sensitive when it comes to books, archives, and cultural losses,” he observed. “Even friends who have little connection with books asked me, ‘Nedret, what’s happening?'”
He humorously noted that no AI company has approached his bookstore with plans for bulk purchases. “So far, neither an AI company nor any other firm has made such a request,” he said.
Isli concluded by suggesting that it is
still too early to determine whether AI will benefit or harm the antiquarian book trade. He acknowledged that during the pandemic, online platforms and digital communication were crucial for the survival of many secondhand bookstores. While recognizing the potential for AI to produce inaccurate information, he suggested it might ultimately drive people to seek more reliable sources. “Perhaps AI will eventually lead more people back to bookstores like ours,” he said, contemplating AI’s future impact on the field.