Amazon rebrands Kindle Unlimited as Kindle+

Amazon has rebranded its Kindle Unlimited service as Kindle+, introducing new audiobooks, including those created with artificial intelligence. The change aims to expand the service's content and attract more subscribers while keeping the monthly price at $11.99.

New audiobooks include AI-generated content

The new Kindle+ service includes audiobooks made by authors through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and those produced using synthetic voices. Authors in the KDP Select program are encouraged to create audio versions of their works to enhance the catalog.

Eligibility and distribution rules vary

For Kindle+, eligible e-books and audiobooks must be part of the KDP Select program. Authors can choose to unpublish audiobooks while keeping the text version. Audiobooks from ACX, a platform linked to Audible, have separate rules and can be removed independently of their e-book counterparts.

Compensation based on content consumption

Authors in Kindle+ are paid from the global KDP Select fund, based on the pages actually consumed by subscribers. If a user reads and then listens to the same content, the second use does not generate extra compensation. The same applies if they read and listen simultaneously.

AI-generated audiobooks have different rules

Audiobooks made with synthetic voices are included in both Kindle+ and Audible. Their consumption does not follow the same compensation rules as other audiobooks. Additionally, audio versions in KDP Select must be distributed exclusively by Audible for the duration of their participation.

AI tools for audiobook creation are limited

Amazon offers a tool that allows eligible authors to transform e-books into audiobooks using virtual voices. Authors can preview and edit the recordings before publication, but access to this tool is restricted and not available to all KDP accounts or works.

Kindle+ is currently limited to the US

The Kindle+ program is currently only available in the United States. The French version of the service explicitly states that audiobooks under Kindle+ are only accessible through the US store, with no specific timeline for expansion to France.

AI's role in publishing sparks debate

The use of AI in publishing has raised concerns among authors and publishers. In France, Gallimard now uses detection software to check if AI was used in writing manuscripts, following a dispute with a Canadian author. In the US, 85% of book buyers want to know if AI helped write a book.

AI writing is common among younger French users

A survey in April 2026 found that 59% of French people have used AI to write on their behalf, with 83% of 18-24-year-olds doing so. The practice is used in both professional and personal contexts, though it is unclear whether it represents one-time help or a true delegation of writing tasks.

AI in publishing is part of a broader trend

Amazon’s expansion of audiobooks with AI-generated content reflects a growing use of artificial intelligence in publishing. AI is increasingly involved in various aspects of book production and distribution, from content creation to distribution strategies.