Question 1

How is this different from ChatGPT?

Accepted Answer

ChatGPT answers from a vast, general model. Ask This Book answers from a specific book, with citations to the chapters and pages the answer came from. The book is the source of truth — not the model.

Question 2

Does this replace reading?

Accepted Answer

No. Ask This Book is designed to deepen reading, not shortcut it. Conversations point you back into the text — to the passage, the chapter, the argument — so you read more carefully, not less.

Question 3

Can I upload books I already own?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your Private Library is for books you legally have access to and want to study personally. Private uploads stay private to your account.

Question 4

What formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

PDF and EPUB at launch, with support for additional formats coming through the beta.

Question 5

What are Official AI Editions?

Accepted Answer

Author- or publisher-verified conversational editions of a book. They carry a verified mark, are grounded in the official text, and produce reader insights only the rights holder can see.

Question 6

Can authors monetize AI editions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Official AI Editions are designed to extend the relationship between an author and their readers beyond the initial sale. Monetization options will roll out alongside the beta.

Question 7

Do you train foundation models on uploaded books?

Accepted Answer

No. Books — both private uploads and Official AI Editions — are never used to train foundation AI models. They power the conversational reading experience for that book only.

Question 8

Are my uploads private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Anything you upload to your Private Library is visible only to you and is never shared, published, or surfaced in the public marketplace.

Question 9

Can I export or delete my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can delete books, conversations, and your account at any time. Deletion is permanent.

Question 10

Are answers always grounded in the book?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Answers are generated from the source text and include citations to the chapter and page they came from. If the book doesn't address something, the answer says so rather than inventing one.

Question 11

Will the AI remember our previous conversations?

Accepted Answer

Within a book, yes — your reading companion builds context as you go. Across books, you can opt into a persistent memory layer that adapts how things are explained over time.