Trending Now - Barnes & Noble CEO Embraces AI Books, Sparking Online Debate

WHO:

IJR - James Daunt is the CEO of Barnes & Noble.

WHAT:

Fast Company - James Daunt stated that Barnes & Noble has an incredible comeback story, having returned to a position of growth after facing bankruptcy in 2019.

Fast Company - Literati, a startup that runs about 4,000 book fairs a year, was recently acquired for an undisclosed amount by Trustbridge, a private equity firm that owns many children's book publishers.

Fast Company - Schools using Literati's new fundraising tools are reportedly pulling in roughly five times what they made before, with one school increasing its earnings from $2,000 to $13,000 during a fair.

Fast Company - James Daunt stated that he is more than willing to stock AI-written books on Barnes & Noble’s shelves, emphasizing that as long as an AI-written book is clearly labeled, it will be stocked.

Fast Company - Daunt acknowledged that not all AI-generated books will disclose their origin, saying, “Do we think that some of those [titles] may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we’re not really conscious of them.”

Fast Company - Daunt expressed skepticism about the commercial viability of AI-generated books, stating, “At the moment, it seems unlikely to us that these AI-generated books are going to get much commercial traction.”

Fast Company - James Daunt stated, “I have actually no problem selling any book, as long as it doesn’t masquerade or pretend to be something that it isn’t, and that it has an essential quality to it, and that the customer, the reader, wants it.”

Fast Company - Daunt emphasized that as long as an AI-written book is clearly labeled as such, Barnes & Noble will stock it.

Fast Company - Daunt acknowledged that not all AI-generated books will disclose their origin, stating, “Do we think that some of those [titles] may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we’re not really conscious of them.”

Fast Company - Daunt expressed skepticism about the commercial viability of AI-generated books, saying, “At the moment, it seems unlikely to us that these AI-generated books are going to get much commercial traction.”

Fast Company - Literati, a startup that runs about 4,000 book fairs a year, was recently acquired for an undisclosed amount by Trustbridge, a private equity firm.

Fast Company - Ewing stated, “The book fair is an experience that 33 million kids get every year,” highlighting the cultural significance of the event.

Fast Company - Barnes & Noble has 300,000 titles across its stores.

Fast Company - In 2025, Barnes & Noble opened 67 new stores across the United States.

Fast Company - Barnes & Noble plans to open 60 more stores throughout 2026.

Fast Company - Daunt stated, “I have actually no problem selling any book, as long as it doesn’t masquerade or pretend to be something that it isn’t, and that it has an essential quality to it, and that the customer, the reader, wants it.”

Fast Company - Daunt mentioned that AI-generated content may already be for sale under the Barnes & Noble brand.

Fast Company - Daunt said, “Do we think that some of those [titles] may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we’re not really conscious of them.”

Fast Company - Daunt expressed skepticism about the commercial traction of AI-generated books, stating, “At the moment, it seems unlikely to us that these AI-generated books are going to get much commercial traction.”

Fast Company - Hachette Book Group canceled its planned publication of the horror novel "Shy Girl" over suspicions of AI-generated writing.

Fast Company - In 2025, there were more than 600,000 traditionally published books and 3.5 million self-published books released in the United States.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Barnes & Noble operates across the United States.

WHY:

Fast Company - Ewing aims to ensure that schools do not have to choose between raising money and promoting reading, stating, “I don’t think schools should have to choose between raising money and raising readers.”

Fast Company - Daunt aims to adapt Barnes & Noble to the AI era, which has led to mixed reactions from consumers.

HOW:

Fast Company - Daunt stated that as long as an AI-written book is clearly labeled as such and does not misrepresent itself, Barnes & Noble will stock it.

(UPDATED May 20, 2026 08:06 UTC)

Barnes & Noble has made a remarkable comeback, returning to a position of growth after facing bankruptcy in 2019, according to James Daunt. In related news, Literati, a startup that organizes around 4,000 book fairs annually, has been acquired by Trustbridge, a private equity firm with a portfolio of children's book publishers. Schools utilizing Literati's new fundraising tools are seeing impressive results, with one school boosting its earnings from $2,000 to $13,000 during a fair, as Ewing emphasizes the importance of not forcing schools to choose between raising money and promoting reading.

(UPDATED May 20, 2026 01:37 UTC)

James Daunt has announced that he is open to stocking AI-written books at Barnes & Noble, as long as they are clearly labeled. However, he expressed skepticism about their commercial viability, noting that it seems unlikely these titles will gain much traction in the market. Daunt's approach aims to adapt the bookstore to the evolving AI landscape, which has sparked mixed reactions from consumers.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 23:20 UTC)

James Daunt, the CEO of Barnes & Noble, stated that he has no issue selling any book as long as it is genuine and meets the readers' desires. He confirmed that the bookstore will stock AI-written books, provided they are clearly labeled as such, but he also expressed skepticism about their commercial viability, suggesting that they may struggle to gain traction in the market. Daunt acknowledged that while some titles might be AI-generated, many readers may not be aware of their origins.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 21:22 UTC)

Literati, a startup that organizes around 4,000 book fairs each year, has been acquired by Trustbridge, a private equity firm, for an undisclosed amount. Ewing emphasized the cultural importance of these events, noting that they provide an experience for 33 million kids annually, and schools using Literati's new fundraising tools are seeing significant increases in their earnings, with one school boosting its revenue from $2,000 to $13,000 during a fair. Ewing also expressed his commitment to ensuring that schools can promote reading while raising funds, stating, “I don’t think schools should have to choose between raising money and raising readers.”

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 19:35 UTC)

James Daunt, the CEO of Barnes & Noble, announced that the company currently offers 300,000 titles across its stores and plans to open 60 more locations throughout 2026, following the addition of 67 new stores in 2025. Daunt emphasized that while he has no issue selling any book, including those potentially generated by AI, they must be clearly labeled and not misrepresent themselves, expressing skepticism about the commercial success of AI-generated titles. In light of these developments, he noted that the publishing landscape is evolving, with over 600,000 traditionally published books and 3.5 million self-published books released in the United States in 2025.