Artificial intelligence is rapidly altering how books are written and produced, according to a recent market study from ABN Amro. Authors and publishers are increasingly using generative tools for research, editing, translation, and text generation, driving up the overall volume of new releases.
International research cited in the report estimates that more than half of new book titles in the United States now feature AI-generated elements. The trend reflects a broader industry debate over copyright, as generative AI models are trained on large volumes of existing copyrighted works.
Copyright and industry pacts
In response to these copyright concerns, Dutch publishers signed a dedicated book pact in June 2026. The agreement aims to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and establish clear conditions for paid licensing when training AI systems.
The issue has already surfaced locally. Earlier this year, Dutch bookseller De Slegte was targeted by an intermediary acquiring physical titles for AI training, highlighting the ongoing effort to secure rights.
Print retains top market share
Despite the influx of digital tools on the production side, reader habits have proven remarkably stable. Paper books continue to form the baseline of the Dutch market, representing roughly 86 percent of physical book sales volumes in 2025, excluding academic textbooks.
Digital formats maintain a steady but secondary position. Industry figures show that e-books generated around €42 million in revenue in 2025, accounting for 6 percent of total book sales in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, about a quarter of Dutch consumers listened to audiobooks, primarily through subscription services like Spotify and Storytel.
Changing habits among readers
While digital formats are not replacing print outright, they are shifting how current readers consume media.
Survey data indicates that the proportion of readers who stick exclusively to paper dropped from 53 percent in 2020 to 46 percent in 2026, with more people opting for a hybrid mix of print, e-readers, and audio.
