AI Companies Are Buying Rare Books, Scanning Them for Training Data, Then Shredding Them
Multiple AI companies are buying rare books, scanning them for training data, then shredding the originals — including irreplaceable texts.
Per TechCrunch, Agility Robotics is opening a new training facility for its Digit humanoid robots in Fremont, California — the same city where Tesla manufactures its Optimus robot. The proximity is not accidental. Locating in Fremont puts Agility in direct competition with Tesla for the talent and partnerships that will determine which companies build the humanoid robotics sector's infrastructure over the next decade.
Unlike some rivals still in development cycles, Agility has already been shipping Digit robots to warehouse customers. That track record gives the Fremont facility a practical purpose beyond symbolism: it is a hub for training real deployed robots, not just for recruiting talent away from a nearby competitor.
Tesla's Optimus, by contrast, is still largely in demonstration stages, according to the source reporting. Whether that gap closes — and whether Agility can expand its warehouse deployments fast enough to matter commercially before Tesla catches up — is the actual race the Fremont announcement is a part of.
All comments are reviewed before appearing. Keep it respectful.
Multiple AI companies are buying rare books, scanning them for training data, then shredding the originals — including irreplaceable texts.
Adam Mosseri says Instagram no longer requires engineers to code 40–60% of the time and has scrapped the traditional technical interview loop.
Sam Altman says AI won't shorten the workweek because humans enjoy staying busy and will just create more work to fill the time.