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Kindle Ask this Book AI-powered feature launches in iOS app

If you’ve ever resumed reading a book after a break and can’t remember who one of the characters is or what happened in the last section you read, or you simply don’t understand the significance of one of the plot developments, a new Kindle Ask This Book feature is here to help …

Amazon promises that the AI-powered feature won’t give any spoilers for parts of the book you haven’t yet read. Ask this Book is launching first on iPhone before it comes to Kindle devices and Android smartphones at some point next year.

Highlight any passage in a book you’ve bought or borrowed, and Ask this Book allows you to ask questions about what you’re reading, right on the page. The feature is currently enabled for thousands of English-language best-selling Kindle books and only reveals information up to your current reading position.

This feature serves as your expert reading assistant, instantly answering questions about plot details, character relationships, and thematic elements without disrupting your reading flow. All responses provide immediate, contextual, spoiler-free information.

The feature is currently available for selected English language books in the US. Amazon says that thousands of books are already covered.

How to use Ask this Book

Simply highlight a passage and among the options offered will be some suggested questions. Tap one of these or type your own question into the text box.

If you’re just picking up the book after a break and need a brief recap, then you’ll find a View Recaps button in selected books.

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Photo: Amazon

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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