Amazon has introduced a new feature for its Kindle platform, enabling readers to ask questions about the content of their books without the risk of encountering spoilers. Dubbed Ask this Book, this innovative tool was unveiled during Amazon’s hardware event in September and is now available to users of the Kindle iOS app in the United States.
The Ask this Book feature is designed to enhance the reading experience by providing immediate answers regarding characters, plot points, and other essential details. It currently supports thousands of best-selling Kindle titles in English and ensures that responses are limited to information available up to the reader’s current position in the book. This allows users to refresh their memory without needing to pause their reading.
Readers can interact with the AI assistant by highlighting passages within their purchased or borrowed books and posing questions. The assistant then delivers contextual, spoiler-free information. Users also have the option to ask follow-up questions for additional context, making it a potentially valuable tool for readers navigating complex narratives.
Concerns from Authors and Publishers
While Ask this Book promises to be a helpful resource for readers, it has sparked controversy among authors and publishers. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Publishers Lunch, a daily newsletter focused on the publishing industry, that the feature is always active, and authors or publishers are unable to opt out of its implementation. This has raised concerns, particularly in light of ongoing legal challenges faced by other AI companies regarding copyright infringement.
Recently, the New York Times and Chicago Tribune filed lawsuits against Perplexity, alleging that the company used their copyrighted content to train its AI models. As the debate surrounding the use of AI in literature continues, Amazon’s decision to implement a non-opt-out feature has drawn scrutiny.
Future Developments and Additional Features
Looking ahead, Amazon plans to expand Ask this Book beyond just the iOS app. The company aims to integrate the feature into Kindle devices and the Android operating system app in the upcoming year, further broadening its accessibility.
In addition to Ask this Book, Amazon has also rolled out a new feature called Recaps for Kindle devices and the iOS app. This function serves as a recap tool for book series, similar to the “Previously on” segments seen in television shows, helping readers to catch up between installments.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding these new features, Amazon recently withdrew its AI-generated Video Recaps feature, indicating that users should verify the information provided by Recaps to ensure accuracy.
As Amazon continues to innovate within the e-reading space, the introduction of AI assistants like Ask this Book marks a significant step forward, although the implications for authors and publishers remain a topic of considerable debate.
