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Kobo, a Rakuten subsidiary that sells ebooks and ereaders, has built its name on being a more open and author-friendly version of Amazon Kindle. However, a recent change to the company's self-publishing business has some writers worried that reputation might change. Last month, the company updated its Terms of Service for Kobo Writing Life, its publishing platform, which opened the door to AI features on the platform. With that new contract language going into effect on June 28th, authors seem no clearer on what it will mean for their futures on Kobo.

For authors who haven't broken into (or have opted out of) traditional publishing both Kobo Writing Life and Kindle Direct Publishing offer a way to sell books without needing representation or a publishing deal. If they can provide their work and the information needed to make a store page — and have a willingness to serve as not only author but marketer — they have everything they need to sell their books.

Agreeing to sell on one of these platforms comes with a list of conditions. The biggest is the split of sales. If an author sells their novel for $2.99 or more on Kobo Writing Life, they keep 70 percent of what they earn. On the considerably larger Kindle Direct Publishing platform, there are two royalty options — 35 percent and 70 percent — but both have a confusing litany of compounding factors, some of which can significantly reduce authors' earnings. The calculus of fees vs. exposure makes authors develop strong preferences for the platform they choose. But the terms of service under which their work is published are also important — and apparently subject to change with little warning.

Engadget spoke with three authors who were surprised by Kobo's decision to experiment with AI. All of them noticed the company had published new Terms of Service because of a simple banner notification in the Kobo Writing Life Dashboard. Even now, a month after the terms were changed, the company is unable to clarify how the new terms would apply to existing work. There also isn't a means for authors to opt out. If anyone on Kobo is adamantly against any amount of AI use, their best and only option is to stop publishing there, and probably to pull their existing work from the platform.

The authors we spoke to were surprised that Kobo didn't reach out about the proposed changes in advance, but also that the company was choosing to work with AI at all. "I appreciate their transparency in being candid about their use of AI," Michelle Manus, a fantasy author on Kobo's platform, wrote to Engadget over email. "What I think they vastly underestimated was the extent to which their user base dislikes AI."

Kobo's new terms are explicit in saying that the company does not plan to use authors' work to train generative AI. It does, however, reserve the right to use "artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning algorithms or similar technologies" to "read, analyze, and process" writing for a variety of non-training purposes, including:

"Enhancing the discoverability of Works" with tagging and targeted customer recommendations

"Evaluating the suitability of Works" for sale in the Kobo store

"Generating resources" like "creating keywords, promotional content, targeted advertisements, customer engagement strategies and other materials"

"Providing recaps, reading assistance and accessibility features"

Authors have taken issue with the apparent lack of recourse provided to them. What happens if a work is incorrectly tagged as one genre when its author believes it more directly fits another? Or what if the "promotional material" Kobo generates includes some kind of hallucination? The biggest issue for the writers Engadget spoke to was the potential for Kobo to deploy AI-generated recaps. Amazon implemented a recap tool on Kindle in April, using generative AI to help readers get back into a series or remember where they were in a novel, and some authors have already found examples of the company's AI inaccurately summarizing stories.

"We would have immediately gone, 'Ah, okay, we see what you're trying to do, but we don't think that the thing you're suggesting is going to work to address the problem that you're trying to address," Delilah Waan, a fantasy author and YouTube creator, told Engadget. Since self-published authors tend to be more responsive to their audience, these kinds of issues could actually jeopardize that relationship. "Authors frequently get pushback from readers about plot choices, and I can only imagine the levels to which that could rise if they are receiving incorrect recaps of what happened in a book," Manus wrote.

All of the authors Engadget spoke to admired Kobo's attempts to address complaints in public. On Bluesky, the company's CEO Michael Tamblyn posted a long thread getting into the logic of including an AI clause in the company's terms. Essentially, Tamblyn wrote, Kobo is trying to make the job of connecting readers with authors easier, and streamlining the moderation process that goes into maintaining the Kobo Store, all while avoiding trampling over copyright. "We are completely uninterested in creating new content using authors' books, and don’t do anything that would allow us to do that," Tamblyn wrote. "And we don’t want anyone else to do it either because we are in the business of selling books and would like to be able to keep doing that."

Agreeing to not train generative AI with an author's work is what all professional writers have been encouraged to demand from publishers by The Authors Guild, a professional organization that advocates for writers and is currently participating in a lawsuit against OpenAI. By choosing to not train generative AI on books, Kobo is starting on the right foot. The dubious nature of what material gets fed into an AI model still leaves many questions, though. "Keep in mind, all of the models right now are illegally trained, and I mean all of the big LLMs [Large Language Models]," Mary Rasenberg, the CEO of The Authors Guild, says. "So they may be using an AI system that's not one of the big LLMs, but whatever system they're using may be based on one of the big LLMs."

Kobo did not respond to a request for information about which LLM it plans to use. For work that might be misclassified or mislabelled, the company encouraged authors to contact them via its support email, which authors say has been responsive to complaints so far. The company says it has not begun testing what it describes as a "beta feature" for generating a "personalized recap" in the Kobo app. It notes that it's "not interested in doing whole summaries of books." Instead Kobo plans to make its recaps specific to each reader, around 150 words in length based on both the pages they read in their last reading session and the quotes they highlighted.

Ebook platforms are taking a cautious approach to AI broadly. Authors who publish through the Apple Books platform can have AI-narrated audiobooks generated from their work, but doing so is completely optional. Barnes & Noble's Press platform doesn't currently offer AI products. Amazon's recaps are currently the most invasive use of AI across ebook markets, and authors can't opt out of them."It doesn't matter how much money we're making from Amazon. We all hate dealing with it," Waan said. She made it clear that self-publishing authors are scared of Kobo changing because it currently has author-friendly answers to most of Amazon's products. "I cannot describe how much we want Kobo to succeed, like we are rooting for them," she said.

Every company seems keen to continue pushing the boundaries of where and how invasively it can implement AI. Waan's hope now is that Kobo engages in some kind of open forum with authors about its proposed uses for the technology. "I think it's really hard to decide, as an author, 'am I going to pull my books?,'" Waan said. "Because the minute you pull your books it's a whole headache, because you gotta update all the links. If you have ads running, you gotta pull them. It's not as simple as turning off a light switch." Difficult as it may be, that's a decision self-published authors will increasingly be forced to make.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-might-undermine-one-of-the-better-alternatives-to-the-kindle-123039955.html?src=rss

Prime Day deals are already surfacing on Amazon ahead of the July 8-11 shopping event, and unsurprisingly, a discount on Audible is among them. We've seen similar offers pop up in the past, but considering Audible is one of the top audiobook streaming services out there, it's worth highlighting again. New Audible subscribers can get three months of access to the Premium Plus plan for $3. That's a total of $42 off for the whole three-month period.

This is one of the best streaming deals around right now. The offer runs through July 31, which is actually a few weeks after Prime Day 2025 ends. Just keep in mind that if you don't cancel your Audible membership before the promotional period ends, it will automatically renew at the standard $15-per-month price.

Through the Audible Premium Plus plan, you'll receive one credit each month. You can use this to claim any audiobook you like on the platform, whether it's a bestseller, new release or something else you've been meaning to get to. You'll retain access to audiobooks you claim with credits even after your subscription expires. So, you're effectively getting three audiobooks for your permanent collection for three bucks.

Audible members will be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts and sales too. They also get access to thousands of audiobooks, Audible Originals and podcasts as long as their subscription remains active.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-three-months-of-audible-for-only-3-in-this-early-prime-day-deal-143734715.html?src=rss

Two-thirds of shoppers won’t let AI check out their cart, even for better dealsMost people fear that AI is helping retailers more than it's helping them to make smart choicesCustomers want suggestions, not machines deciding what color, brand, or size to buyAs major tech and retail giants rush to integrate agentic AI into e-commerce, consumer sentiment remains cautious.Top brands like Amazon, Google, Walmart, and Mastercard are pushing the boundaries with AI systems designed to act on behalf of shoppers.However, it appears that most shoppers are saying “no thank you,” we do not need a machine to act on our behalf.Consumer trust lags behind AI shopping ambitionsAccording to a survey by Omnisend, 66% of U.S. shoppers say they would not allow AI to make purchases for them, even if it meant securing better deals.This resistance reflects not just hesitation about new technology, but a deeper mistrust of whose interests these AI tools actually serve.“Consumers are open to AI enhancing their shopping experience, but there’s a world of difference between getting a smart recommendation and handing over the entire wallet,” says Bernard Meyer, e-commerce expert at Omnisend.Agentic AI promises convenience by automating the selection and payment process.In theory, this could streamline buying decisions, reduce time spent searching for deals, and even personalize orders, but many shoppers remain skeptical.“Shoppers want to know exactly what they’re buying, whether it’s size, color, or brand. Trusting an agent to make those calls is still a leap. Especially when consumers suspect AI is working for the retailer, not them. Until that trust gap closes, AI will remain a product discovery tool.”Nearly half of those surveyed, 48%, believe AI should focus on customer service improvements rather than transactional control.Many feel AI’s current use prioritizes upselling rather than helping customers.In fact, 42% see AI today as being mainly geared toward increasing sales rather than solving problems.This perceived bias undermines confidence in AI agents and fuels concern over the erosion of independent choice.Even the best online marketing tool or email marketing service might struggle with public perception if AI is seen as amplifying manipulation or exploiting user data for targeting.In addition to trust, data privacy plays a significant role in the hesitation, and 58% of respondents said they were concerned about how AI handles their data.If users fear these systems are aligned with commercial agendas rather than their interests, adoption may stall regardless of technical sophistication.You might also likeCheck out the best AI phones on the marketHere is our list of the best AI website builders on the webMicrosoft Teams is working on a massive time-saver tool which might super-charge my productivity

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 28 (game #482).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… ... Hue are my sunshineNYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.LINEROLLBASINHOUSETRENCHSEENNYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 15 lettersNYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 6th rowLast side: right, 6th rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #483) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #483, are…BLUEGREENVIOLETYELLOWINDIGOORANGESPANGRAM: CHASING RAINBOWSMy rating: EasyMy score: PerfectWow. Strands, I didn’t know you could do this. After a year or so of playing this game, it is really fun when something unexpected happens, like today’s color explosion – a tribute to International LGBT Pride Day yesterday, the NYC Pride March today and the six colors of the rainbow flag.I must admit I really struggled to put together the spangram CHASING RAINBOWS seeing the whole thing in three stages – first rainbows, then sing, then chasing. All worth it, of course. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 28, game #482)REMOTEFLASHLIGHTCLOCKTOYSCAMERASPANGRAM: BATTERIES REQUIREDWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 28 (game #1251).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• M• A• S• SRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1252) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1252, are…MIRTHAPTLYSCRUBSMACKA very difficult round today, with just one vowel in every word. Getting APTLY was my biggest triumph, but it took a while before I got there and only after experimenting with possible words that begin and end with the letter A.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1252) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1252, are…RAVENARBORDRUIDPRICEQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWINGQuordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUINGQuordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEYQuordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUADQuordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACKQuordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXISTQuordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCIONQuordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAMQuordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURIDQuordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVYQuordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURNQuordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINEQuordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGNQuordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVENQuordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONICQuordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRYQuordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSEQuordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOODQuordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASELQuordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL