Amazon’s AI Book Problem: When Bots Become (Bad) Doctors

Machine Learning, Human Misleading

AI-generated books about ADHD are flooding Amazon’s online marketplace, raising red flags among experts and advocacy groups. Many of these titles claim to offer medical advice or diagnosis, but are often riddled with inaccuracies and generic, repackaged content—some attributed to fictional authors. The emergence of these machine-penned guides has intensified concerns about the potential dangers of AI in sensitive domains like mental health. Critics warn that AI-generated health advice, especially when unvetted, could lead to misinformation and harm for vulnerable readers.

Amazon’s Moderation Fails the Test

Despite Amazon’s longstanding policies against misleading or harmful content, the company appears to be struggling to keep pace with the surge in AI-authored materials. The platform’s volume-based self-publishing ecosystem has made it easy for users to crank out hundreds of titles quickly with large language models. While Amazon promises to review and remove books that violate guidelines, many of these dubious ADHD titles remain searchable—and purchasable. Experts are calling for more transparent moderation practices and stronger safeguards in digital publishing to prevent exploitation of AI at the public’s expense.

Health Misinformation Meets AI Acceleration

Concerns over mental health misinformation intersect with the increasing accessibility of generative AI tools. Unlike conventional publishing, where editorial review creates barriers to entry, AI enables content mills to decimate those walls. The ADHD book debacle exemplifies a broader issue: AI’s potential to amplify false or misleading health narratives, especially in algorithmically-driven marketplaces. Without prompt intervention, experts warn, these platforms risk becoming breeding grounds for dangerous pseudoscience with a robotic twist.