James Daunt, the chief executive of Barnes & Noble, has said he has “no problem” with the retailer selling AI-written books, as long as they are clearly labelled. In an interview with NBC News, Daunt stated that he would stock such titles provided they do not “masquerade” as human-authored works and meet a basic quality standard.
“Yes, I have actually no problem selling any book, as long as it doesn’t masquerade or pretend to be something that it isn’t,” Daunt told Today host Jenna Bush Hager. “And that it has an essential quality to it, and that the customer, the reader, wants it.” The British businessman, who also runs Waterstones in the UK, emphasised that clarity about authorship is crucial.
Daunt acknowledged that some of the 300,000 titles across Barnes & Noble stores may already be AI-generated, though he said the company is not “really conscious of them.” He added that AI-generated books currently appear unlikely to gain “much commercial traction,” and advised treating the issue “with common sense and acceptance.”
The comments come amid growing concerns in the creative industries about AI replacing human artistry. A 2025 Cambridge University study found that 59 per cent of UK novelists reported their work had been used to train large language models without permission or payment, and over a third said their income had suffered due to generative AI.
Barnes & Noble, acquired by hedge fund Elliott Advisors in 2019 for $683 million, is currently experiencing a revival after years of store closures. The chain announced plans to open 60 new stores across the US in 2025, attributing the growth to a strategy of giving local booksellers more control.
