AI-generated biographies flood Amazon with fabricated flattery
A New York Times investigation reveals a surge of AI-generated biographies on Amazon, characterized by flattering, fabricated content and excessive use of em dashes. One such book, attributed to a purported author named John Crane Miller, features a bio page describing him as a "seasoned biographer and cultural analyst" alongside a widely used stock photo. The piece highlights the growing problem of AI-slop in publishing, where automated tools produce low-quality, misleading books that undermine trust in biographical works.
Key facts
- AI-generated biographies are appearing on Amazon.
- The books are flattering, fabricated, and packed with em dashes.
- One author, John Crane Miller, is described as a 'seasoned biographer and cultural analyst'.
- Miller's portrait is a widely used stock photo.
- The New York Times published the investigation on July 16, 2026.
- The phenomenon is referred to as 'AI slop'.
- The article is by The New York Times.
- The URL is https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/technology/ai-slop-books-biography-amazon.html.
Entities
Institutions
- Amazon
- The New York Times