Amazon is facing increased scrutiny in 2025 for the sale of books about ADHD seemingly written by AI chatbots [1]. These books are marketed as expert advice but may disseminate inaccurate or harmful information [1].
Michael Cook, a computer science researcher at King's College London, expressed his frustration with the increasing prevalence of AI-authored books on digital marketplaces, especially concerning health topics [1]. Originality.ai, a US company, analyzed samples from eight books and concluded that they were likely written by chatbots [1]. Experts caution that the lack of regulation on online marketplaces can lead to the spread of dangerous misinformation [1].
Richard Wordsworth, who is diagnosed with ADHD, discovered a book on Amazon containing harmful advice and inaccuracies. He noted that the author's headshot appeared to be AI-generated and that the author lacked credible qualifications [1]. Professor Shannon Vallor, from the University of Edinburgh, asserted that Amazon has an ethical responsibility to avoid knowingly facilitating harm [1]. Amazon states that it has content guidelines and removes books that violate them, regardless of whether they are AI-generated [1].