The rapidly evolving landscape of AI training data has revealed Microsoft as the mystery company partnering with HarperCollins Publishers in a significant content licensing deal.
Deal specifics: Microsoft has entered into a three-year agreement with HarperCollins to use select nonfiction books for AI model training purposes.
- The arrangement specifically covers “select nonfiction backlist titles” from HarperCollins’ catalog
- Authors must explicitly opt into the training program
- Individual authors are being offered $2,500 per book for the three-year licensing period
Author reactions: The compensation structure has sparked discussion among writers about the true value of their intellectual property in the age of AI.
- Author Daniel Kibblesmith publicly shared that he received a $2,500 per book offer
- When asked about an acceptable offer, Kibblesmith stated he would consider it “for a billion dollars” or an amount that would eliminate his need to work, highlighting concerns about AI’s impact on creative professions
Project parameters: While details about Microsoft’s planned AI model remain limited, early information suggests a focused approach to content utilization.
- Sources indicate Microsoft does not intend to use the licensed content to generate AI-written books
- The company has declined to comment on specific details about the project
- The model has not yet been publicly announced
Industry context: This agreement follows a broader pattern of major tech companies securing publishing partnerships for AI development.
- News Corp, HarperCollins’ parent company, previously established a similar arrangement with OpenAI
- The OpenAI deal encompasses content from major digital outlets including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Daily Telegraph
Strategic implications: The selective focus on nonfiction content and opt-in structure suggests a careful approach to AI training data acquisition, while raising questions about the future relationship between traditional publishing and artificial intelligence technology.
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