Reddit Signs Deal with Google for AI Model Training
Social information and dialogue web site Reddit is increasing its partnership with tech big Google, the corporate mentioned on Thursday. Reddit mentioned the deal—which is able to give Google entry to just about 20 years of user-generated content material—will make it simpler “to find and entry the communities and conversations individuals are on the lookout for on Reddit.”
Final week, Bloomberg reported that Reddit signed a contract with an undisclosed AI developer for a deal value $60 million. Right this moment’s announcement confirms hypothesis that the corporate in query was Google.
I discussed yesterday that Google’s finest technique for sustaining AI dominance might be utilizing its deep pockets to lock down sources of coaching information.
We’ve now realized Reddit has signed a $60M/12 months deal to supply its information to an unnamed AI firm. Key query is that if unique? pic.twitter.com/U3wGynmXnS
— Dare Obasanjo🐀 (@Carnage4Life) February 17, 2024
“By making Reddit content material and communities simpler to seek out, we’re capable of uphold our perception within the open web whereas higher serving present customers and reaching new audiences,” Reddit mentioned. “All of this builds on our present partnership with Google Cloud to combine new AI-powered capabilities to enhance Reddit and assist obtain our mission of bringing neighborhood, belonging, and empowerment to everybody on this planet.”
In line with Reddit, Google positive factors entry to the library of present content material on Reddit and permits Google to make use of the Reddit Information API to enhance its services and products.
“With the Reddit Information API, Google will now have environment friendly and structured entry to brisker data,” Google mentioned in a press launch. “In addition to enhanced alerts that may assist us higher perceive Reddit content material and show, prepare on, and in any other case use it in essentially the most correct and related methods.”
For its half, Google mentioned Reddit will, in flip, get entry to its Vertex AI for enhanced search and “different capabilities.”
Launched in 2021, Vertex AI is part of Google’s suite of cloud computing companies that lets builders prepare and deploy custom-made AI purposes and fashions.
Reddit customers have been combined on the information however principally screwed in direction of a destructive view of the implications of Google having access to Reddit’s consumer content material.
“Given the power to filter sure subreddits out, Reddit could supply the next high quality dataset than YouTube in case your objective is to tune the AI to a sure POV,” Reddit consumer u/WayOverPaid commented. “Some subreddits are far more closely moderated than others.
“There is not any manner Google goes to dump all of Reddit into an AI, besides as a primary go to see how unhealthy it’s,” the consumer quipped.
This remark was echoed by others who mentioned Google would have its palms full purging problematic content material gleaned from Reddit.
“So, Google AI might be educated on YouTube and Reddit?”requested u/REOreddit. “Properly, I actually do not envy the those who should work on making the ensuing AI mannequin not poisonous.”
The $60 million AI deal comes as Reddit is reportedly eyeing an preliminary public providing (IPO) within the close to future. Citing folks aware of the matter, Reuters reported that the social media platform is trying to go public someday in March 2024—lengthy after first submitting an software for an IPO with the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee in 2021.
