Nina Raemont/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
New Kindle features will help readers catch up on what they read.
Both features consider what you've read and are spoiler-free.
Kindle's iOS app will get the features first, then other devices.
While new Echo devices, Fire TVs, and Ring cameras captured most of the attention at Amazon's Devices & Services event this week, the company also unveiled a pair of upcoming Kindle devices -- the Scribe and the Scribe Colorsoft. (Check out ZDNET editor Nina Raemont's hands-on thoughts on both here).
The new Kindles do mostly what you would expect from Amazon's e-reader, but a couple of AI-powered features in the announcement caught my eye. It turns out those features aren't exclusive to the new Scribe series, but are coming to almost all Kindle devices. If you're anything like me, these features might just help you read a lot more.
Also: Amazon event 2025 updates: Reactions to Echo, Kindle Scribe, Alexa+, Fire TV, more
Whenever I find time to pick up my Kindle, I generally see two categories of books in my library. Some are books that captured my attention so well, I burned through them in a day or two. The majority, though, are books that I started, got distracted by another title, started that one, went back to my original, got distracted by a third, and so on. In fact, over half of my library is books in various states of completion.
Naturally, those reading habits often lead to me wondering about things like, "Wait, who is this guy again?" or "What happened that caused all this drama?" By the time I've backtracked to sort things out, I don't have time to move forward very far, leading to my pile of unfinished books.
Two new AI features aim to solve that problem.
Kindle's new catch-up features
Story So Far: This feature, Amazon explains, is a highlight reel of sorts for what you've read. Instead of going back and skimming to catch up, you can jump right back into your book with an AI-generated summary. One of the biggest advantages here is that the summary only goes to the page you're on -- so you stay spoiler-free. The ability to not only quickly catch up, but also avoid spoilers in the process, is a game-changer for a distracted reader like myself.
Ask This Book: If you're the curious type, this one's for you. With Ask this Book, you can highlight a passage and get answers to questions. You can ask about characters, the importance of a scene, why a character might be doing something, plotlines, and more.
Also: The best Kindles you can buy: Expert tested
Amazon says this feature -- like Story So Far -- takes into consideration only what you've read; you're not going to accidentally spoil anything. I'm terrible with remembering names, especially in books with a lot of characters, and I'll sometimes even resort to taking notes to keep track of everyone. With this feature, I'd be able to get a quick reminder about a person or scene without leaving my book.
Amazon says these features will be available for thousands of purchased or borrowed Kindle books in the US. When I reached out, a representative explained they would be rolling out first to the iOS Kindle app later this year and then next year to all Kindle devices eligible for a software update.
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If you're interested in upgrading, the Kindle Scribe will be $429 or $499, depending on whether you opt for the front light, and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which gives you a full color display with frame, will be $630.