More than 60% of Rakuten Kobo's customers are over 55 years old, according to a July 2026 report by the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) in partnership with Kobo. In most markets, the average age of Kobo users is between 60 and 65. This finding is not new—similar data was noted by ActuaLitté a decade ago. The current challenge lies not in attracting older readers but in retaining them, considering factors like reading comfort, audio formats, and prescription needs. While the book industry has focused on younger generations through initiatives like BookTok and online communities, the report stresses the importance of not neglecting current readers. The report, based on a private roundtable in New York in April 2026, includes representatives from Kobo, Hachette Book Group, OverDrive, Authors Guild, and AARP. It notes that Kobo did not deliberately target older readers but adapted its products, marketing, and community strategies to meet the needs of its customer base. According to Kantar, 50% of the most avid readers are over 55, though the definition of "avid readers" differs from "heavy book shoppers." The report discusses how aging can influence reading habits, such as the need for larger text, lighter devices, and simpler interfaces. It cites the example of an 85-year-old man who stopped reading due to macular degeneration but could resume with an e-reader. The document suggests a shift toward digital and audio formats, though it does not provide international data on audiobook markets. In the United States, Morgan Stanley estimated in July 2025 that people aged 55 and over controlled about three-quarters of the country's wealth, nearly 40% of total disposable income, and 30% of consumption spending. The GCOA-Kobo report critiques current marketing strategies for focusing too much on younger consumers while neglecting older readers. It recommends simplifying content discovery, developing digital clubs, and better representing the life experiences of older people in content and promotion. Meanwhile, China is strengthening regulations on online book sales, focusing on platforms, short videos, and livestreaming. The proposed revision of the Regulation on the Management of the Book Market specifies obligations for intermediaries and tightens control over sellers, targeting piracy and certain pricing practices. Oxford University's Bodleian Library is digitizing its collections for OpenAI, while internal documents reveal that the files have also been used to train OpenAI's models. OpenAI faced internal scrutiny over the ethical implications of using pirated books from LibGen for training AI. AI-generated books are becoming more prevalent on Amazon, with 20% of fiction ebooks sold containing more than 25% of AI-generated text. This has raised concerns about the quality and originality of content. Amazon is working to strengthen its control over AI-generated content. Calibre 9.15 includes a feature that allows users to create their own interactive stories, while tools like KindShare enable transferring EPUB files to Kindles without using Amazon's Send to Kindle service. PocketBook Q, an e-reader under Linux, is set to launch at 199 €, offering a smartphone-like format. BookTok's influence on book sales is being analyzed by Publitik, a tool that aggregates data from 37 sources in 19 countries. Anthropic and Amazon have both been involved in controversies over using books to train AI, with Amazon recently changing its Kindle pricing rules to allow higher prices and better compensation for authors. AI's impact on the publishing industry is growing, with concerns over copyright, transparency, and content quality. In Australia, creators are opposing efforts to grant AI companies broader rights, while in China, publishers are adding warnings to books to prevent their use in AI training. The use of AI in audiobook production is increasing, with Spotify and ElevenLabs offering tools to create audiobooks with synthetic voices. Audiobook professionals report that 85% already use AI in their workflows, though human voices remain crucial for editorial value. Piracy remains a significant issue, with Bookys facing legal action in France and on-demand printing of pirated books detected in India. In Russia, self-publishing accounts for 61% of the digital book market, showing a growing trend. Kobo's sales in the United States have doubled in 2025 and again in 2026, according to CEO Michael Tamblyn. The company is expanding its presence in Argentina with new e-reader models. Meanwhile, Amazon is modifying its user interface to direct readers to a new "Your Books" section, though some features remain unchanged. The use of AI in education is controversial, with concerns over its impact on intellectual autonomy. AI-generated content is also being used in creative ways, such as recreating lost scenes of Orson Welles' films and generating children's books from existing poems. The publishing industry continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, digital formats, and changing consumer behaviors, with a growing emphasis on addressing the needs of older readers and managing the ethical and legal implications of AI's role in content creation and distribution.