NBC News Top Stories | Why the CEO of Barnes & Noble would support selling AI-written books in stores by Ariana Brockington, TODAY

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

James Daunt, who became CEO of Barnes & Noble in 2019 when the chain was struggling and facing possible bankruptcy, has overseen a revival that includes opening 67 new stores in 2025 and another 60 this year, restoring the bookseller’s relevance amid competition from online retailers. In a recent interview with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager, Daunt explained that while AI‑generated titles are beginning to appear, Barnes & Noble will stock them only if they are clearly identified as AI‑written, do not mislead readers, and respect copyright, emphasizing the need for transparency about authorship. He noted that among the chain’s 300,000 titles some may already be AI‑produced, but he does not expect them to gain major commercial traction. Daunt remains confident about the future of physical bookstores, citing the profession’s universal community spirit and the enduring cultural value of books, even as digital reading and audiobooks grow.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/ceo-interviews/barnes-noble-ceo-ai-written-books-rcna345702

#JamesDaunt #NBCNews

Variety | NBC News Aims to Steer Business Coverage Beyond Stocks, Bonds by Brian Steinberg

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

NBC News is rolling out a new “Business in America” initiative that moves its business reporting beyond traditional stock‑market coverage, featuring in‑depth interviews with CEOs of major consumer‑impact companies such as Nike, General Motors, Zillow and Barnes & Noble. The series—shaped by audience research showing a demand for clear, non‑partisan explanations of rapid market‑wide changes in technology, retail and health care—will be distributed across “Today,” “NBC Nightly News,” NBC News Now, the network’s subscription app and social platforms. NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde highlighted the audience’s appetite for direct insight from corporate leaders, and the effort follows NBC News’ recent split from CNBC’s business unit. Veteran reporter Christine Romans has been named chief business correspondent to anchor a new two‑hour live‑stream program, while the first segment featured Craig Melvin interviewing Nike CEO Elliott Hill, with upcoming episodes slated with Zillow’s Jeremy Wacksman and Barnes & Noble’s James Daunt.

Read more: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/nbc-news-business-beyond-stocks-bonds-cesar-conde-1236743902/

#NBCNews #Nike #GeneralMotors #Zillow #CesarConde #ChristineRomans #JoannaStern #CraigMelvin #ElliottHill #CNBC #JeremyWacksman #JamesDaunt

News Summary: EU Removes Books from Deforestation Rules, as Daunt Weighs AI-Generated Titles

We start the week with a round-up of stories I originally had slated for Saturday before sadder events overtook us. First up, two of my favourite topics wrapped into one neat story package: print and European law.
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/deforestation-rules/

#AIgeneratedbooks #booksellingtrends #EUDRexemption #Europeanpublishing #jamesdaunt

“By the way, much as I love bookstores and booksellers, we sit in the second rung beneath public libraries and public librarians. They’re the true heroes of our industry, and they don’t sell a single book. They’re sitting in there doling them out for free.”
Barnes & Noble CEO #JamesDaunt in a #Decoder interview with #NilayPatel (#TheVerge) in 2023.

Yours truly, for a number of years:
“#Librarians are the superheroines and superheroes of the #InformationAge.”

https://www.theverge.com/23642104/barnes-and-noble-amazon-bookshop-ecommerce-decoder-podcast

“Everybody wins. Except maybe the reader.

Daunt refused to play this game. He wanted to put the best books in the window. He wanted to display the most exciting books by the front door. Even more amazing, he let the people working in the stores make these decisions.

This is #JamesDaunt’s super power: He loves books.” https://tedgioia.substack.com/p/what-can-we-learn-from-barnes-and #Books #Libraries #Bookstores