Earlier this week, those with ebooks available through Google Play Books learned of a new AI feature coming to the platform next month. Starting July 6, Book insights will act as a "helpful reading companion,” according to the platform, giving readers the ability to request summaries of the book up to a certain point, type questions about the story in the “Ask Play Books” box at the bottom of the screen, or highlight portions of the text to receive in-line comments about themes, characters, and story context. The feature uses AI to generate answers about the book for the reader, though it does not allow users to view previous search history or copy and paste the responses provided by the app.
As expected with any AI tool, authors have shared mixed reactions to the feature, with some looking forward to readers using the tool and others worried it will discourage readers from reading further or spoil parts of the book. The new feature has also been compared to Amazon’s “Ask this book” and “Recaps” features, which provide similar insights generated by AI. The Authors Guild has raised concerns with Amazon about its features, which were added in December 2025 without permission from authors or publishers, according to the Guild. A spokesperson for Amazon responded that the company views the features as a natural expansion of the existing search tool within each book, so it did not require an additional license.
Although authors do not yet have the option to opt out of Amazon’s AI features, those concerned about the Google Play Books feature will be able to opt out of the tool for individual titles or across their library. Publishers can also choose to opt out of the feature at any point after the July 6 deadline, though the platform’s email notes that this change will only apply to ebooks purchased in the future. If a reader has purchased the title while Book insights is enabled, “the user will still be able to use Book insights in the title” even if the publisher turns the feature off at a later point.
Of course, the Book insights feature is also far from the only one authors may choose to leverage on the platform—and those who choose to opt out of the tool can still find ways to reach more readers on Google Play Books. In the June 2025 issue, IAM publisher Chelle Honiker explored ten ways authors could boost their businesses using Google Play Books. You can read Honiker's article at the link below, and find more information on Google's Book insights tool at https://support.google.com/books/partner/answer/16994370.
Chelle Honiker
This Week's Indie Author Magazine Articles
As you reach the end of the editing process, where do you go next? At the halfway point in her journey to launch a new pen name in a year, Author Inklings columnist Susan Odev compares several publishing paths authors may explore and reminds authors that their best path forward depends on their goals, timeline, and temperament—and that their answer may vary from one project to the next.
Susan Odev
Teachings from Indie Author Training
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More Indie Publishing News
Here’s a look beyond our pages at the latest headlines and happenings in the publishing world.
- In an announcement May 19, Rakuten Kobo shared an integration with StoryGraph, the reading community platform, will be available to Kobo readers sometime in June. The integration will allow readers to automatically sync their reading history and progression Kobo with their StoryGraph account. Ahead of the integration’s rollout, Kobo Writing Life shared advice on how authors can make the most of the integration and connect with more readers through the platforms. Read the article here: https://www.kobo.com/kobo-writing-life/blog/how-to-use-rakuten-kobo-and-storygraphs-collaboration-to-reach-more-readers.
- MailerLite announced Wednesday a list of updates coming to its free tier starting July 1. The changes will include access to more features but a reduced subscriber limit; where previously, the free plan allowed for up to 500 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails, with the change, the platform’s free plan will support up to 250 subscribers and only 2,500 monthly emails. Those whose accounts exceed the subscriber or sending limits will need to upgrade to a paid plan or reduce their subscriber count by July 1 in order to continue using the platform. You can find more details about the updates on MailerLite’s website: https://www.mailerlite.com/help/free-plan-update-faq.
Anything we’ve missed that you think we should cover? Any topics or questions you’d like our team to explore? Let us know at feedback@indieauthormagazine.com. Your suggestion may just make it into an upcoming article.
