07/29/2026
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🤖 Our stance on AI
As the strain and fatigue continues to grow from hearing about AI and all the negative effects that come from it, we felt compelled to share our stance on AI.
TL;DR - We don't support it.
AI Generated Books & Artwork
We have been receiving a growing list of independent authors submitting books to us to stock on our shelves that are clearly designed and written by AI. Our space is extremely limited. If you have been to our shop, you'll understand. That space is reserved for authors who pour their blood, sweat, and tears into their work. We will not accept any book with known or suspected AI generated covers or writing.
AI Companies are literally destroying books
If you have been following the news (and this isn't that new) AI companies such as Anthropic who created Claude have been buying books in bulk to copy into their systems to train the AI, but destroying the books in the process. We're talking MILLIONS of copies. As a small indie bookstore that is trying to create a community of affordable literacy, we cannot stand behind something as appalling as that. No only do we view that as theft, who is to say how that literature is going to be used? To be changed? Also, the AI companies are choosing books from 2022 and before, because....they most likely were written 100% by humans.
Rising Costs
Storage & subscription costs among other things have doubled or tripled in price all in the name of AI. Things that are necessary for the operation of a small business (tax software, hard drives, photo / video editing, email software, etc). We didn't ask for the additional AI features, nor do we use them if at all possible, yet we're still footing the bill.
Lowering Critical Thinking & Literacy Rates
Studies are already showing that the increased use of AI by individuals are reducing critical thinking skills. Literacy rates have already been on a decline, but the constant use of AI is only contributing to that issue. Being a business that revolves around the love of stories, knowledge, entertainment, reference, and reading, of course we care about this one a lot.
Environment Concerns
Being a business that is built on being sustainably we keep the environment in mind, 85 - 90% of our products, decor, and fixtures are all repurposed. We do that with intent. AI data centers destroy beautiful landscapes. They have ruined water supplies. They hurt ecosystems and human neighborhood alike.
We understand that AI isn't something new. We know that AI has been around since the 1950s. There are some great use cases for it out there. However, A LOT has changed over the past 3-4 years, very rapidly and without much or any rules & regulations.
All we are saying is that we support the environment. We support artists. We support authors. We support musicians. We don't support billionaires.
