Kindle's latest software update introduces useful feature

Amazon has begun rolling out Kindle software version 5.20.2, introducing the AI-powered tool "Ask This Book" to compatible e-readers. The feature has been available on the Kindle iOS app since last December, with Amazon signalling for more than a year that it would come to dedicated devices at some point. Reportedly, the download is among the company’s largest firmware files at around 643 MB.

The feature, which can be accessed via the search function or by highlighting a particular word or passage, acts as an interactive reading companion that can answer questions about plot points and characters, provide summaries or follow up on earlier questions/answers. Questions can be restricted to content covered up to the reader's current position, helping avoid spoilers, or expanded to encompass the entire book.

However, the functionality has several limitations: an internet connection is required, sideloaded titles and Send-to-Kindle documents are excluded, and only selected Amazon-published or distributed ebooks are supported. The rollout is currently automatic, with no download listed on Amazon’s update page. Amazon is also yet to publish any release notes, leaving compatibility details unclear, particularly for 2024 models. Users of the recently launched 2026 models will undoubtedly get the update, as indicated by recent reports.