B&N and other sites offering signed copies. Both of the “In Conversation” events promoted a signed book with purchase. We’re talking easily tens of thousands of signed books going out.
Hilarry Duff is is hot water at the moment for this (as was Paris Hilton and others music artists) - not only did she offer signed copies, but promoted them with videos of her signing and talking about how sore her hand is, insisting she’s signing every single one, etc - every copy arrived is a blatant autopen and it barely matches the autograph she’s giving in person at promo events.
It’s just a gross cash grab and leaves fans turned off. Sure, we have no confirmation one way or the other yet*, but as TotallyEffed mentions, their love of AI opens up the possibility that other shortcuts are being taken. Hopefully not.
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.