EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Aug 10·5 min read
A 'bananas' order for 5000 obscure book titles fuels suspicion
TL;DR
An unusual order for 5,000 diverse book titles raised eyebrows among European booksellers, highlighting potential irregularities in bulk purchasing practices. The lack of negotiation on pricing further fueled suspicions.
✦ Why It Matters
Investigate unusual purchasing patterns in your supply chain to prevent potential fraud.
Key Takeaways
- Investigate the source of large book orders to ensure ethical practices.
- Stay informed about copyright laws affecting book sales and scanning.
- Consider the implications of AI on the book industry and critical thinking.
- Collaborate with other booksellers to address common challenges.
Full Summary
Booksellers across Europe, including Tomás Kenny in Galway and Urban Zerfass in Berlin, have reported receiving large, peculiar orders for thousands of obscure books, often without negotiation on price. These orders, which can range from €10,000 to €50,000, are suspected to be part of a larger scheme by tech companies, particularly AI firms like Anthropic, to acquire books for training their models.
Anthropic's Project Panama involved purchasing and destroying books to scan their content, raising significant copyright concerns. German booksellers believe that an AI-driven bot is automating these orders, targeting books with ISBN numbers for scanning.
The legality of such practices varies by region, with European laws being stricter than those in the US. The implications of this trend could threaten the existence of independent booksellers and fragment critical thinking among readers.