FULL DISCLOSURE: I did get some help from ChatGPT for this article. However, I reviewed the content in detail, edited it some, and I think this is valid and useful information.
There’s been a growing ripple of concern in author circles about upcoming changes to Amazon’s Kindle DRM system, reportedly taking effect in January 2026. Alongside that has come a more alarming claim: that if authors choose to make their ebooks DRM-free, readers could upload those books into AI systems like ChatGPT—and the content would then be absorbed into large language models.
That fear sounds plausible at first glance. It’s also largely based on misunderstandings.
Let’s separate what’s actually changing from what’s being speculated—and talk about what authors should realistically care about.
What Amazon Is (and Isn’t) Changing
Amazon is not eliminating DRM. Authors will still be able to choose whether DRM is enabled or disabled for Kindle ebooks, just as they do now.
What is changing appears to be the technical implementation of DRM—primarily tighter encryption and stronger controls aimed at reducing automated scraping and large-scale piracy. This is an internal systems update, not a philosophical shift in Amazon’s stance on digital rights management.
In other words:
This is a backend adjustment, not a new author policy.
The Big Fear: “If DRM Is Off, My Book Can Be Fed to AI”
This is where things go off the rails.
Buying a book does not equal training an AI model
Even if a reader uploads a purchased ebook into an AI tool, that does not mean the book becomes part of the model’s training data.
Modern AI systems are trained on:
•Licensed data
•Publicly available data
•Curated datasets assembled offline
They are not continuously ingesting user uploads into their training corpus. A reader pasting or uploading content into an AI tool does not magically add that content to the global model.
DRM doesn’t prevent AI exposure anyway
Even if DRM were airtight (it isn’t), it wouldn’t stop:
•Screenshots
•OCR
•Manual copying
•Quoting
•Summarizing
•Human discussion or analysis
•Piracy via other channels
DRM was never designed to protect against AI—and it doesn’t.
If excerpts of your book are visible through:
•Amazon Look Inside
•Google Books previews
•Your website
•PDFs sent to reviewers
•Blog posts or newsletters
…then your content is already “AI-reachable,” regardless of DRM.
The Real Pros and Cons of DRM (The Part Authors Should Focus On)
Potential benefits of DRM
•Discourages casual sharing
•Offers emotional reassurance to some authors
•Can make sense for certain specialized content (e.g., high-priced manuals or proprietary training materials)
Very real downsides of DRM
•Frustrates legitimate readers
•Limits device flexibility
•Breaks accessibility tools
•Creates problems for international buyers
•Can reduce sales and increase refunds
•Does nothing to stop determined piracy
For most trade nonfiction, memoir, fiction, and poetry, DRM introduces reader friction without providing meaningful protection.
A Reality Check About AI and Author Risk
AI is not quietly stealing indie authors’ books one DRM-free Kindle file at a time.
If someone truly wants to misuse your content, DRM has never stopped them. And if someone wants to summarize or discuss your work using AI, DRM is irrelevant.
What actually protects authors in 2025 and beyond isn’t technical locks—it’s:
•A strong author brand
•A recognizable voice
•Credibility and authority
•Ethical norms
•Direct relationships with readers
•Context that can’t be stripped away by a tool
Books aren’t just text files. They’re part of a larger ecosystem of trust, expertise, and human connection.
Practical Guidance for Authors
For most authors, a sensible default remains:
•Kindle ebooks: DRM OFF
•Print books: DRM is irrelevant
•Audiobooks: DRM is platform-controlled
Situations where DRM might make sense:
•Expensive workbooks or course materials
•Corporate or institutional content
•Time-limited licensed materials
•Highly specialized professional manuals
This is a strategic decision—not a moral one, and not an AI panic button.
Final Thought
Fear thrives in uncertainty, and AI has introduced plenty of that. But authors are best served by understanding how systems actually work, not reacting to worst-case scenarios that don’t hold up under scrutiny.
Amazon’s DRM update is a technical change—not a threat to author livelihoods, and not a gateway for AI to absorb your books.
As with so many things in publishing, clarity beats panic. Strategy beats fear.
Author
One of my favorite things about BAIPA is its culture of generosity, the willingness — even eagerness — to share what we have each learned in the process of bringing stories to life. We provide educational programs, networking, marketing opportunities, encouragement, and information on industry vendors and services. And lots of one-on-one advice and mentoring.
We welcome all who have an interest in making connections within the world of independent publishing and learning more about how to publish and sell their work successfully. Together we are raising the standard of independent publishing and helping our members thrive.
Do join us!
—Becky Parker Geist, BAIPA Board of Directors, President
Quick Resources
Current BAIPA members do not need to register for our monthly meetings. The night before the meetings, they will receive the Zoom info. For workshop registration, members can buy a member ticket and will receive the Zoom info the night before the meetings, as well as in the confirmation email.