TL;DR

Waterstones would stock AI-generated books if clearly labelled and customer demand existed, according to CEO James Daunt. However, he personally doesn’t expect this to happen, noting that the chain currently tries to keep AI-generated content out of its shops.

A Nuanced Position

Speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, Daunt acknowledged the “huge proliferation of AI-generated content” but said most of it comprises books “that we should be selling.” While Waterstones uses AI for logistics operations, the approach to AI-generated literature is more cautious.

“As a bookseller, we sell what publishers publish, but I can say that instinctively that is something that we would recoil [from],” Daunt explained, before adding that ultimately it would be “up to the reader” to decide.

The Publishing Industry Debate

The explosion of generative AI has sparked heated debate across the publishing industry, with writers concerned about the impact on their livelihoods. Daunt, heading into his 36th Christmas season in the book trade, noted that Waterstones’ success has been built on empowering individual store managers to serve their local communities.

“Head office is there to make life easier,” he said. “Make sure the books that they order turn up on time, but do not tell [managers] where to put them.”

Looking Forward

Daunt also raised the prospect of a potential stock market flotation for the book chain and expressed an unusual welcome for the recent Budget. For businesses navigating AI’s impact on creative industries, Waterstones’ position—open to the technology but protective of quality standards—may become a common approach as AI-generated content becomes harder to distinguish from human work.

Source: BBC News