Major AI Training Data Deals (2020–2025)

Tracking the emergence of data markets

Source: Open Data Labs (opendatalabs.xyz)

2020–2023

Shutterstock → Meta

Meta → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2023 | training

Axel Springer → OpenAI

Multi-year contracts giving OpenAI historical and ongoing access to news content.

Shutterstock → LG

LG → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2023 | training

Shutterstock → NVIDIA

NVIDIA → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2023 | training

Shutterstock → OpenAI

OpenAI → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2023 | training

Associated Press → OpenAI

Associated Press — OpenAI deal, 2023-07

2024

News Corp → OpenAI

$250M (5 years)

News Corp — OpenAI deal, 2024-05

Reddit → Google

Ongoing and historical data access with Google.

Shutterstock → Apple

Apple → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2024 | training

Yelp → Perplexity AI

Licensed review and location data to Perplexity AI and Neeva, plus other LLM companies.

Shutterstock → Amazon

Amazon → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2024 | training

Wiley → undisclosed

Select content used to train LLM | Wiley's former SVP for Strategy is now SVP and General Manager for AI Growth. The job description is "Lead new AI growth opportunities in content licensing, AI appli

Dotdash Meredith → OpenAI

Dotdash Meredith — OpenAI deal, 2024-05

Taylor & Francis / Informa → Microsoft

Informa / Taylor & Francis — Microsoft deal, 2024-05

Prisa Media → OpenAI

OpenAI → Prisa Media | news_media | text | lang: Spanish | 2024 | combined

Le Monde → OpenAI

Le Monde — OpenAI deal, 2024-03

HarperCollins → Microsoft

Uses nonfiction books for AI training purposes | The deal is for three years and authors must opt-in to be included. Terms of the agreement were one-off, not an ongoing AI licensing right. Additional

Financial Times → Microsoft

Microsoft → Financial Times | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Hearst → Microsoft

Microsoft → Hearst | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Reuters → Microsoft

Microsoft → Reuters | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

USA Today Network → Microsoft

Microsoft → USA Today Network | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Adweek → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Adweek | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Blavity → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Blavity | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

DPReview → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → DPReview | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Der Spiegel → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Der Spiegel | news_media | text | lang: German | 2024 | rag

Fortune → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Fortune | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Gear Patrol → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Gear Patrol | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

LA Times → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → LA Times | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Lee Enterprises → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Lee Enterprises | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Mexico News Daily → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Mexico News Daily | news_media | text | lang: Spanish | 2024 | rag

Minkabu Infonoid → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Minkabu Infonoid | news_media | text | lang: Japanese | 2024 | rag

NewsPicks → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → NewsPicks | news_media | text | lang: Japanese | 2024 | rag

Prisa Media → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → Prisa Media | news_media | text | lang: Spanish | 2024 | rag

RTL Germany Stern → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → RTL Germany Stern | news_media | text | lang: German | 2024 | rag

RTL Germany ntv → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → RTL Germany ntv | news_media | text | lang: German | 2024 | rag

TIME → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → TIME | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

The Independent → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → The Independent | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

The Texas Tribune → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → The Texas Tribune | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

World History Encyclopedia → Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI → World History Encyclopedia | news_media | text | lang: English | 2024 | rag

Shutterstock → Reka

Reka → Shutterstock | visual | image, video | lang: NA | 2024 | training

Automattic (Tumblr/WordPress) → OpenAI, Midjourney

Automattic (Tumblr/WordPress) — OpenAI, Midjourney deal, 2024-02

Axel Springer → Microsoft

Axel Springer — Microsoft deal, 2024-04

Financial Times → OpenAI

Financial Times — OpenAI deal, 2024-04

Reddit → OpenAI

undisclosed + ad partnership

Reddit — OpenAI deal, 2024-05

Stack Overflow → OpenAI

Stack Overflow — OpenAI deal, 2024-05

The Atlantic → OpenAI

The Atlantic — OpenAI deal, 2024-05

Vox Media — OpenAI deal, 2024-05

TIME → OpenAI

Time — OpenAI deal, 2024-06

Multiple publishers (Time, Der Spiegel, Fortune, etc.) → Perplexity AI

Multiple publishers (Time, Der Spiegel, Fortune, etc.) — Perplexity deal, 2024-07

Condé Nast → OpenAI

Condé Nast — OpenAI deal, 2024-08

FT, Axel Springer, The Atlantic, Fortune, UMG → ProRata AI

50% subscription revenue share

FT, Axel Springer, The Atlantic, Fortune, UMG — ProRata.ai deal, 2024-08

Oxford University Press → undisclosed

OUP just confirmed it is working with "companies developing large language models" - no other details available

Reuters → Meta

Reuters — Meta deal, 2024-10

FT, Reuters, Axel Springer, Hearst, USA Today → Microsoft

FT, Reuters, Axel Springer, Hearst, USA Today — Microsoft deal, 2024-10

Hearst → OpenAI

Hearst — OpenAI deal, 2024-10

Wiley → Potato

Not disclosed, but SVP and GM for AI Growth mentioned that for a revenue share agreement is a possibility they are open to for AI licensing deals

Used to help build Potato's tools. No details provided, but tools include automated paper review and a lab protocol generator. | This is the first deal announced as part of Wiley AI Partnerships, a "c

14 publishers (LA Times, The Independent, etc.) → Perplexity AI

14 publishers (LA Times, The Independent, etc.) — Perplexity deal, 2024-12

2025

Wiley → Amazon

AWS has built an open source toolkit for healthcare and life sciences, which "offers a catalog of starter agents and an orchestration framework for organizations to build and customize their agentic s

Johns Hopkins University Press → undisclosed

Content used to train LLMs | - In an email to authors, JHUP executive director stated that an AI licensing contract provides legal protection for JHUP against scraping and pirating - contract includes

AFP → Mistral

Mistral → AFP | news_media | text | lang: French | 2025 | rag

The Guardian → OpenAI

OpenAI → The Guardian | news_media | text | lang: English | 2025 | rag

Associated Press → Google

Associated Press — Google deal, 2025-01

Axios → OpenAI

Axios — OpenAI deal, 2025-01

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) → ProRata AI

Not detailed in announcement, but in 2024 ProRata.ai had a 50/50 revenue split with content licensing partners based on usage

Used specifically for Gist.ai search engine with emphasis on bolstering transparency and reliability. They are not doing broad LLM training, but rather focusing on select, high quality content to keep

NEJM Group → OpenEvidence

Multiyear agreement

RAG model to inform OpenEvidence platform, which specializes in providing current medical research to doctors. | NEJM Group stressed the alignment of this deal with their values, as they hope thier re

New York Times → Amazon

undisclosed, multiyear

New York Times — Amazon deal, 2025-05

Wiley → Perplexity AI

Not disclosed, but AI licensing segment is driving a lot of their revenue growth — Not disclosed

"Students can access assigned Wiley curriculum materials through their institution's Enterprise Pro subscription, eliminating the need to switch between platforms." | Wiley is using this limited use o

Johns Hopkins University Press → ProRata AI

Not disclosed — Not detailed, but copyright holders will be "credited and compensated for their material on a per-use basis" for the propotion of content used to answer queries, calculated by a proprietary AI algorithm

Content is used to power ProRata's Gist.ai search engine answers | ProRata's licensing agreements focus on establishing reputable search results from their licensing agreements and author attribution,

Taylor & Francis / Informa → undisclosed

Not disclosed — Undisclosed

Not disclosed | A third LLM deal was reported in the Q&A session of Informa's Half-Year Results meeting. The LLM partner was not disclosed, though announced as a "different customer" from other AI lic

Wiley → Anthropic

Not disclosed — Undisclosed, requires dual-subscription to Wiley and Claude to access Wiley content and Claude's MCP integration chatbot

Wiley's Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration is part of a Claude for Education pilot program. MCP is "an open standard that will enable integration between peer-reviewed content and AI platforms")

Bloomsbury → undisclosed

20% royalty payment to authors.

Bloomsbury retaining rights to license to LLMs | Bloomsbury has given authors the opportunity to opt-in to potential future licensing agreements with a 20% royalty payment. There have been questions r