Kindle’s New AI Feature Can Answer Questions About Your Books (Whether Authors Want It or Not)

Whether you’re reading dense, challenging 19th-century classics or the latest thriller, sometimes even the best readers lose track of what’s actually going on, such as who’s who or how characters relate to each other.

Now, Amazon is rolling out a new feature via the Kindle iOS app that uses AI to give readers answers about the books in their Kindle library—whether authors choose to opt in or not. Called Ask This Book, the new feature allows users to highlight any passage from a book they’ve bought or borrowed on their iPhone’s Kindle app and ask questions about what they’re reading without leaving the page. For example, it can fill readers in on plot details or explain who certain characters are.

Amazon didn’t disclose exactly how many books the feature is currently available for, but said “thousands” of bestselling English-language books have been enabled. The company said the feature will roll out to physical Kindle devices and Android in 2026, though no firm date was given.

However, the tech giant has provided few details about how the new feature actually works, and the tool could prove controversial in today’s hotly contested AI-copyright environment. In an interview with publishing-industry magazine PubLunch, spotted by book site Reactor, an Amazon spokesperson said: “To ensure a consistent reading experience, the feature is always on, and there is no option for authors or publishers to opt titles out.”

Amazon also reportedly failed to answer PubLunch’s questions about what licensing rights it is using to enable the new tool, adding: “nor did they elaborate on the technical details of the service and any protections involved.” For example, it’s not clear how Amazon plans to prevent AI hallucinations, or whether the text could be used for AI training by large language models.

(Credit: Amazon )

If you’re interested in trying the feature anyway, head to Ask This Book in the in-book menu, or simply highlight any passage as you read. You can then tap one of the suggested questions or type your own to get answers from Amazon’s new tool—and keep the conversation going with follow-up questions.

In another potential plus for forgetful readers, Kindle is also introducing a Recaps feature. Amazon says this works much like the “Previously on…” segment before a TV show, providing a quick refresher on storylines and character arcs in Kindle books you own or have borrowed.

The feature is already available on both Kindle devices and the Kindle app for iOS users in the US. To access it on a physical Kindle, look for the View Recaps button on the series page in your Kindle Library by clicking the three-dot menu within the series grouping. On the Kindle iOS app, the same option appears when you press and hold the series grouping.

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