Google has reached a $60 million deal to use Reddit content to train its generative-AI models, according to a report by Reuters on Thursday. The deal is intended to assist chatbot tools in generating more natural and conversational responses, as well as providing relevant and current information.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Reddit had struck such a deal, but the other party involved was not initially named.
The Reuters report comes at a time when AI companies are seeking alternative methods for utilizing online data while respecting copyright laws. It coincides with Reddit’s announcement of its forthcoming initial public offering, in which it will list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RDDT.
Previously, AI models powering tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini (formerly Bard) have been trained primarily on content scraped from the web. This practice has raised concerns among content creators, resulting in a search for new methods of obtaining content, such as partnerships with content-rich websites like Reddit.
Reddit’s deal with Google mimics a recent agreement made by Axel Springer, which provides OpenAI access to the German media giant’s content for AI training. However, similar concerns have been raised about the allocation of funds from these deals.
Both Reddit and Google posted announcements on Thursday, hinting at a closer collaboration in various areas, but neither explicitly mentioned the reported deal or its value.
Google described Reddit as having “an incredible breadth of authentic, human conversations, and experiences,” while Reddit stated that their work with Google “will make it easier for people to find, discover, and engage in content and communities on Reddit that are most relevant to them.”
Editors’ Recommendations
