Rakuten Kobo rejects 45% of submissions after slew of AI-generated books uploaded
22 June 2026 (The Bookseller) Paid
Ebook publishing platform Rakuten Kobo reported that a flood of AI-generated titles forced it to reject nearly half of all submissions last year, per the Bookseller.
Storytel launches “Genie”, an AI recommender
17 June 2026 (Trading View)
Storytel Genie is an AI-powered companion that adds a new layer of interactivity and personalization to the audiobook experience. Designed to understand the context and mood users are in, it can explain why a specific book will resonate, help them pick their next story, and generate recaps when a listener has lost the thread of a story in progress.
Here’s Google Books’ AI-in-book effort, “Book Insights”
16 June 2026 (Google)
It is built with Gemini, and available when you’re reading select English titles, including thousands that are available at no charge. Try Book insights today in free-of-charge titles like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Moby Dick” or “Pride and Prejudice.” [Wow, Moby Dick.]
Audiobooks Grow 9% in the U.S.
15 June 2026 (Publishing Perspectives)
The Audio Publishers Association reports that US audiobook sales reached a record $2.43 billion in 2025, up 9% year-ove- year, with more than 750,000 active titles, a 43% increase.
Adorable Bluetooth ereader page turner
13 June 2026 (Tech Radar)
They’re made for people like me, who are too lazy to even use the physical page-turn buttons on the likes of the Kobo Libra Colour — especially when lying in bed to read. (I mean, who wants to stick their finger out from under the blanket on a cold night to touch the propped up ereader?)
Connecticut Libraries Call on More States to Address “Predatory” Ebook Pricing
12 June 2026 (InfoDocket)
Action comes as libraries across the country continue to struggle under a digital licensing system that forces taxpayers to pay repeatedly for access to books they never truly own. Under current publisher licensing models, libraries can pay up to ten times the consumer price for a single e-book license and may be required to repurchase that same title after just 26 checkouts or two years to retain access.
EBSCO Integrates Kortext Ebook Catalog
2 June 2026 (Press Release)
“…giving libraries greater flexibility in how they source and acquire digital content.”
Major Publishers Sue ‘WeLib’, a Pirate Site Built on Anna’s Archive Code
11 June 2026 (Torrent Freak)
“Defendants’ entire business is the illegal copying and distribution of literary works,” the complaint notes, adding that “WeLib was created after its operators copied the source code and most of the contents of the Notorious Pirate Site, Anna’s Archive.”
Subscribe to our weekly Book Tech news brief
