Microsoft is the mystery AI company licensing HarperCollins books, says Bloomberg
Illustration: The Verge
Just one day after 404 Media revealed that HarperCollins struck a three-year AI training deal with an unnamed company, Bloomberg now says Microsoft will use the publisher’s content to train a not-yet-announced AI model.
HarperCollins said in a statement to 404 Media that its deal will include “select nonfiction backlist titles” and that authors will have to opt into the training program.
One author, Daniel Kibblesmith, posted screenshots a few days ago showing that he was offered $2,500 per book for a three-year AI licensing contract. Asked what would be an offer he’d consider taking, Kibblesmith said in a post on Tuesday, “I’d probably do it for a billion dollars. I’d do it for an amount of money that wouldn’t require me to work...