ManyBooks just hired Google’s book-scanning chief to shred and digitize “all the books in the world.” The company aims to mass-convert printed works into digital format.
The move sparked backlash from authors and publishers worried about copyright and content control. Critics say bulk digitization risks flooding the market with unauthorized copies.
The initiative plans to use cutting-edge scanning tech to speed up the process. ManyBooks insists it’s about preserving knowledge and making books widely accessible. 
The issue started brewing when insiders leaked the hire. Soon after, industry watchdogs raised alarms over legality and ethics.
ManyBooks hasn’t shared detailed plans yet but confirmed they’re building out a massive book repository. The launch follows accelerated efforts to digitize physical media in the AI era.
Google’s former head of book scanning joined ManyBooks to lead the ambitious project. His expertise includes past large-scale book imaging ventures.
Watch this space for updates as ManyBooks rolls out its digitization blitz.
