GENERAL KOBO WRITING LIFE
Is there a limit to how many books I can upload to Kobo Writing Life?
Yes, there might be. While Kobo Writing Life doesn't have a specific limit, accounts with over 500 titles may be reviewed. If an account exceeds this, Kobo may do a review to ensure the platform runs smoothly for all authors and readers.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
What are Kobo's guiding principles when considering AI?
At Kobo, our principles are: How can we make a reader's life better? How do we treat authors and publishers well and protect their intellectual property? How can we make the very best possible reading experience on our eReaders and apps? And how can our team spend more time doing valuable and interesting work, and less time in manual, repetitive grind.
Does Kobo feed books into LLMs or use them to train AI models?
No. We do not feed books into anyone's LLM, nor do we use books to train any LLMs. We are not interested in creating new content using authors' books and take measures to prevent this.
What are examples of "AI" or "machine learning" that Kobo uses?
We use various algorithms, scripts, and processes, including machine learning techniques like pattern recognition and proximity analysis, to analyze books as a part of our content ingestion process. These techniques are used to answer questions like: Do we already have this book? Is the coding of the .epub intact or broken? Does it violate any of our content policies? And other questions that we need answered to ensure that the book is appropriate for sale.
How does Kobo use AI to moderate content?
We use machine learning models that we have developed ourselves to identify and quarantine books containing hate speech, descriptions of child sexual abuse, or other content violating our guidelines. This model is trained on examples and passages from such books and is used to find similar content. The flagging and quarantine process is supervised by a team of moderators and overseen by a content policy group that reviews difficult-to-categorize cases. The content moderation model is not generative, is not a Large Language Model, and it cannot create new content. It is a purpose-built detector designed to find books that breach Kobo's content policy.
How does Kobo use AI to improve metadata and categorization?
Kobo may use purpose-built models to sample the text of books and identify relevant keywords, tags, and categories. This helps improve merchandising, recommendations, and search results, ensuring books are accurately categorized. We only process samples of the text, not the entire book, and this sampling is focused and is not shared with any other company.
How does Kobo deal with AI-generated and pirated content?
We increasingly face challenges from AI-generated content, pirated content rewritten by AI, and other low-quality submissions. As such, we’re developing machine learning tools to detect patterns and similarities to legitimate books to screen out this content. Combating AI-generated and pirated content is crucial to protect author revenue, maintain the integrity of our search results, and free up our operations team’s valuable time.
What is Kobo's commitment to authors and publishers regarding AI?
Our approach is built on a simple promise: to help authors connect with more readers while protecting their work. We’re committed to treating authors fairly, safeguarding their intellectual property, and giving them the tools they need to thrive on our platform. Kobo is committed to treating authors with care and respect and being transparent about our use of AI-like techniques. Authors can always choose to remove their books from Kobo, but we hope that by being transparent about our practices that authors will see that we’re committed to using the best tools available to do the job responsibly.
What are some examples of how Kobo wants to use AI for marketing?
At Kobo, our focus is on enhancing our promotional activities to help your book find its perfect audience, and we’re committed to doing it ethically and effectively. Let’s be clear from the start: Kobo will never use your books to train AI models to generate new content. Your creative work is yours, and we respect that.
We leverage machine learning to connect your book with readers who are most likely to enjoy it, by looking at reading habits and trends. This means your book is seen by the right people, increasing the chances of them falling in love with your story. AI also helps us identify books that fit specific themes or categories, assembling books into collections or other promotions and personalized recommendations. We also utilize design tools, like Figma and Adobe products, which include AI-powered components, to quickly adapt marketing materials for various screen sizes and formats, ensuring the marketing that includes your books looks great on any device. We may use AI-assisted design tools to automate book cover placement in banners, emails, and other marketing materials. Additionally, short quotes from your book or metadata may be incorporated into promotional materials to highlight key selling points. All of these AI-assisted processes are carefully reviewed by our team to ensure they meet our high standards. We want to automate tedious graphic production tasks so that our marketers and designers can do more interesting and valuable work.
We are a bookseller who wants to put your books in as good a light as possible, on the digital equivalent of a great-looking shelf or window, so goal is to present your books beautifully and appropriately to potential readers. Doing anything less would hurt us too. We’re excited to continue working with you to bring your stories to the world.
What does Kobo plan to do with summaries and recaps?
We understand that the mention of AI can raise questions, and we want to be transparent about how we're exploring its potential to improve your reading experience. Rest assured, Kobo will never use your books to train AI models to generate new content.
We are not interested in doing whole summaries of books. Authors provide us with title descriptions – that's what we rely on to describe the book to customers. We won't risk spoilers, plot details, or anything else being revealed that would ruin the experience of a book.
What we are interested in is making the reading experience even better for people who have already purchased the book, and finding ways to get more books finished. So, we will be exploring a recap inside a book that has already been purchased. One of the problems we see is that, if someone steps away from a book for a period of time, they are much less likely to finish it. Picking up where you left off – getting back into a book – is a problem in both fiction and non-fiction.
We will be developing a feature within the Kobo App where readers will be able to request a short, personalized recap of their recent reading activity. The amount of summary will be limited to their last reading session; it will be short and quick, viewable only by the reader and will include references to any highlights or annotations they've made. The recaps will be short (~150 words), generated on the fly uniquely to the requesting user, and will not be permanently saved. The creation of the summary will use a generative AI model, but neither the input nor the output will be used as training data.
While this feature will use an AI model to generate the recap, no author text will become training data for the model. It's an application of generative AI, and we understand that some people have concerns about that. We hope you can see we're trying to use it in a way that helps readers finish books, which is usually the step before they buy the next one – a benefit for everyone. Our ability to bring new readers to Kobo is partially based on our ability to make better, more interesting reading experiences, and this is one area where we compete to make customers happy and sell more books. We believe this feature will help people finish more books, which is good for readers and authors alike. We are committed to using technology responsibly, supporting authors, and enhancing the reading experience. We will keep you informed as we develop and launch new features.
I just heard about Kindle recaps. What are Kobo's plans?
At Kobo, our approach to AI is to help authors connect with more readers while rigorously protecting their work. We're committed to treating authors fairly, safeguarding their intellectual property, and empowering them with tools to thrive on our platform. Our goal is to bring the most benefits possible to readers, achieved through the cooperation and collaboration of authors and publishers. Authors will have clear and accessible opt-out options for potential future AI-driven recap or summary features, ensuring they retain full control over how their content is utilized.
Some AI techniques have significant energy, water, and carbon impacts. What is Kobo doing to minimize these impacts?
Most of the machine learning approaches we describe above are vastly smaller in power consumption compared to Learning Language Models. These are run on regular servers like the rest of our software infrastructure and don’t have the environmental impact that is a real concern with LLM use. Where we do use generative AI elsewhere in the business, it is with the understanding that there is a real cost, not just in dollars, but in negative environmental externalities that have to be a part of any conversation about efficiency, cost savings, or reducing employee toil.
How can I provide feedback on Kobo's use of AI?
We value your feedback! You can contact our author support team here. We are always looking for ways to improve and appreciate your input. We want to hear from you.
Where can I find more information about Kobo's policies and practices?
Please refer to our Terms of Service on the Kobo website. We also encourage you to stay updated on our blog for announcements and updates.
ANNOTATION EXPORTS
What are Annotation Exports, and when will the feature be available?
To download the annotations, readers simply need to log into their Kobo account on Kobo.com. This feature will be available on June 28, 2025.
In what formats can my readers download their annotations?
To make it as convenient as possible, readers can export their annotations in a variety of popular formats: HTML, PDF, markdown, and .txt. This gives them the flexibility to use their notes in the way that works best for them.
Is there a limit to how much my readers can export at once? I'm concerned about unauthorized distribution of my content.
Yes, there's a limit of 600 characters per individual annotation. This ensures that readers cannot export large portions of your book's text. This limit is in place at the request of publishers, including self-published authors like you, to safeguard your intellectual property.
Can I choose not to participate in the Annotation Export feature? I want to be sure I have control over my content.
While we understand the desire for complete control over your content, currently, it is not possible to opt-out of the Annotation Export feature on Kobo Writing Life. We are actively listening to author feedback and continuously evaluating our policies.
Who is eligible to export annotations from my books?
To ensure responsible use, only customers who have purchased your book or are Kobo Plus subscribers through their Kobo account can export annotations. This helps prevent unauthorized access and sharing.
Will I be able to see who is exporting annotations from my books? I'd like to understand how the feature is being used.
While we don't provide individual user data, Rakuten Kobo will record the number of downloads in aggregate per title.
TTS
What is Text-to-Speech (TTS), and how does it work on Kobo?
Text-to-Speech (TTS) is a feature that allows readers to listen to your book using computer-generated audio. It's an important accessibility feature for readers with visual impairments, dyslexia, or other reading disabilities. When a user activates TTS, our system uses the platform's built-in voice options (iOS, Android, etc.) to read the text aloud. The audio is generated on-demand and not saved.
Why is Kobo implementing TTS?
Accessibility is a top priority for Kobo. We are committed to providing an inclusive reading experience for all users, including those with disabilities. Text-to-Speech is a key feature in meeting this commitment and complying with accessibility regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Will TTS affect audiobook sales of my book?
Text-to-Speech (TTS) and audiobooks serve different needs. Audiobooks are professionally narrated and offer a richer listening experience. TTS provides a basic audio version for readers who need it for accessibility or find value in listening while reading along. Many readers may use both, depending on their needs and preferences. Also, not all eBooks have audiobook equivalents, meaning that for users that require or have a strong preference for audio, there is no audiobook option available to them.
Can I control the voice used for TTS on Kobo?
The voice options for Text-to-Speech are determined by the operating system of the device (iOS, Android, etc.). Readers can typically choose from a variety of voices and languages within their device settings. Kobo does not control the specific voices available.
How is TTS different from a screen reader?
Text-to-Speech is a feature within the reading app that focuses solely on reading the text aloud. Screen readers are assistive technologies that provide a much broader range of features for users with disabilities, including navigating the user interface, reading menus, and interacting with other applications.
Why would someone use TTS instead of a screen reader?
Screen readers are powerful tools for users with vision and cognitive disabilities, but they are also complex and take practice to learn and use. Screen reader users also use Text-to-Speech (TTS) features when available, depending on the type of reading they are doing. Kobo has conducted informational interviews with users with reading disabilities and many of them used TTS, screen readers, and audiobooks interchangeably.
A screen reader user who is reading a book for entertainment may use TTS or an audiobook, depending on availability, because they want to listen to the content. They may switch to their screen reader for non-fiction or educational content in order to interact through annotations or other features. Readers with cognitive disabilities like dyslexia or ADHD may use TTS as an aid while reading the text to help them focus and understand the content. TTS has also been cited as helpful for children as they learn to read, or language learners trying to build comprehension skills.
How does Kobo ensure that TTS is accurate and reads my book correctly?
The accuracy of Text-to-Speech (TTS) depends on the quality of the text in your book. We recommend ensuring your book is well-edited and free of errors to ensure the best TTS experience. The TTS engine will read the text as it is written.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and how does it affect me as an author on Kobo?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a European Union law that requires digital products and services, including eBooks, to be accessible to people with disabilities. As of June 28, 2025, Kobo will meet the core requirements of the EAA. This means we are implementing features like TTS to make our platform more accessible. While the EAA primarily affects Kobo, it's important for authors to be aware of accessibility best practices to ensure their books are readable by everyone.
Will Kobo be highlighting the words as they are being read?
Yes, the word that is being read is often highlighted so users who are looking at the screen can follow along.
Can TTS be configured to read out additional content like image descriptions, footnotes, or print page numbers?
Yes, Text-to-Speech can also be configured to read out additional content like image descriptions, footnotes, or print page numbers.
Will the TTS feature work online and offline?
Yes, this feature will be able to work online and offline.
How can I provide feedback on Kobo's TTS feature?
We value your feedback! You can contact our author support team here. We are always looking for ways to improve and appreciate your input.
Where can I find more information about Kobo's policies and practices?
Please refer to Kobo’s Terms of Service. We also encourage you to stay updated on our blog for announcements and updates.