Summary

  • Google has committed $10 million to acquire business data from Spirit Airlines to enhance its AI capabilities.
  • This data encompasses internal communications, spreadsheets, booking records, and employee details, as reported by CNN.
  • AI data firm Mercor had previously offered $7.5 million for the same data, pending approval from a bankruptcy judge.

In a strategic move to bolster its AI models, Google is set to pay $10 million for data from Spirit Airlines, which includes various internal documents and records.

According to a CNN report, the package contains emails, spreadsheets, booking data, frequent-flyer records, and employee HR information, with personal identifiers removed before delivery to Google.

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A spokesperson for Google confirmed to CNN, "We acquired part of an enterprise dataset from Spirit Airlines, which can be helpful in improving our products and AI models." They emphasized that no personal data would be included in the transaction.

Additionally, a Reuters report indicated that the dataset also comprises Microsoft Teams messages, calendars, plus records related to marketing, productivity, and operations.

Following its operational halt in May, Spirit Airlines has been liquidating its assets as part of bankruptcy proceedings. Typically, airline bankruptcies result in acquisitions by other carriers, which often includes their data.

Google faced competition for this data, with AI data company Mercor having placed a $7.5 million bid.

The transaction is still subject to court approval, with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane scheduled to review the deal during a hearing on Wednesday.

This acquisition is part of a broader trend where AI companies are increasingly investing in data to refine their models. For instance, in February 2024, Reddit granted Google access to nearly 20 years of user-generated content in a deal valued at an estimated $60 million annually. In May 2024, OpenAI also secured an agreement to incorporate Reddit content into ChatGPT.

More recently, in January, the Wikimedia Foundation disclosed partnerships with Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, and other AI entities for extensive access to Wikipedia's content.