A recent investigation by 404 Media used a hidden Airtag in a rare book to trace it to an Amazon AI training facility. The facility, located in Las Vegas and code‑named VGT3, reportedly tears books apart and scans pages for machine learning.

Amazon’s official statement deflects the issue, noting purchases are made to improve customer products. Yet the company’s need for unique training data has led it to buy bulk orders of low‑value rare titles, a practice that has alarmed collectors.

Critics such as Michael Burry have called the practice "evil incarnate," while Amazon workers ډېر describe the job as a "nice" gig. The debate highlights the tension between AI advancement and the preservation of historical literature.

Booksellers on Reddit and industry voices like Derek Walker argue for greater transparency, warning that destroying one of the few surviving copies of an edition could erase irreplaceable knowledge.