News: Amazon's 'Ask This Book' Feature Sparks Debate as 2025 Wraps Up

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway closes out 2025 by examining Amazon's new "Ask This Book" AI feature for Kindle and the backlash over its always-on use with no author opt-out. He reflects on a year shaped by AI controversies, including the Anthropic class action, contrasts Amazon's approach with Spotify's push for greater transparency, and looks at wider industry shifts, from romance's continued dominance to the rise of Bookshop.org as a meaningful alternative for both print and e-book sales. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.