Amazon and Apple Struggle With AI-Written Books Flooding Their Stores

Amazon and Apple face growing pressure to control AI-written books that copy real titles, imitate cover designs, and mislead readers through fake authors, false biographies, and low-quality summaries sold as original work.



Fake Books Keep Returning After Removal



Tech writer Joanna Stern found ten fake versions of her book, I Am Not a Robot, on Apple Books within days of its release. Many used similar colours, copied the book’s structure, and sold for prices ranging from $9.99 to $20.99.



Stern reported the fake books to Apple, and the company removed them. However, three more copies appeared soon after, raising questions about how Apple reviews new uploads and prevents repeat violations.



New York Times journalist Kashmir Hill also found a fake biography of herself on Amazon. The book included inaccurate claims, while its listed author used a false profile and a stock image.



Amazon allows publishers to sell ebooks and paperback editions through print-on-demand services, which lets sellers upload books without paying printing costs in advance. This makes it easier to publish large numbers of AI-written titles quickly.



Apple and Amazon remove reported books, but their current systems still rely heavily on complaints from authors and readers. Both companies now face calls for stronger identity checks, better content reviews, and faster action against repeat publishers.