"I Am Not a Robot" author Joanna Stern found over 10 AI-generated knockoffs of her book on Apple Books, with some using similar covers and a misspelled author name.
Journalist Joanna Stern discovered a troubling trend on Apple Books this week. In a YouTube Shorts video published on February 27, 2025, she revealed that over 10 AI-generated knockoffs of her book I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything had appeared on the platform.
- Some knockoffs featured covers nearly identical to the original.
- At least one was published under a slightly misspelled version of her name.
After Stern contacted Apple, the listings were removed. However, she noted that replacements appeared shortly after the takedown.
Stern also found two workbooks based on her book on Amazon. These were later removed after she reported them to the company.
A Growing Problem for Authors
This incident is not isolated. In 2023, author Kara Swisher highlighted a similar issue when AI-generated knockoffs of her book Burn Book: A Tech Love Story appeared on Amazon. After she raised the issue with Amazon's leadership, those listings were also removed.
AI-generated clones have become a common and persistent problem for book authors, exploiting the speed of digital publishing and the difficulty of policing automated content.
Company Policies on AI Content
- Apple stated that its policies on Apple Books require transparency and disclosure for AI-generated content. The company says it "strictly prohibit[s] content that misleads customers or infringes on copyright."
- Amazon removed the two workbooks after receiving Stern's report, though the company has not publicly commented on the broader issue of AI clones on its platform.