Kindle's new AI feature can answer your questions about books
What's the story
Amazon has introduced a new AI-powered feature, "Ask This Book," on its Kindle iOS app. The tool lets readers ask questions about the content of a book they're reading without leaving the page. For example, you could ask for plot details or character descriptions. The company has said that "thousands" of bestselling English-language books have already been enabled with this feature.
Expansion plans
AI feature to be available on more platforms
The "Ask This Book" feature is currently available only on the Kindle iOS app. However, Amazon plans to extend its availability to physical Kindle devices and Android-based apps in 2026. To use this feature, users can go to Ask This Book in the in-book menu or highlight any passage while reading. They can then tap on suggested questions or type their own queries for answers from Amazon's new tool.
Controversial implications
It raises copyright concerns
The introduction of this feature has raised some concerns, as authors and publishers don't seem to have a say in whether their work can be used for such interactions. An Amazon spokesperson said, "To ensure a consistent reading experience, the feature is always on, and there is no option for authors or publishers to opt titles out." However, details about how the tool works are scarce.
Technical hurdles
Amazon's AI feature could face technical challenges
There are also questions about the licensing rights Amazon is using to enable this tool, as well as its technical workings and safeguards. For instance, it's unclear how Amazon will avoid AI hallucinations or if the text could be used for training large language models (LLMs). Despite these concerns, users can still try out the feature by going to Ask This Book in the in-book menu or highlighting any passage while reading.