Perplexity AI has entered into a multi-year global licensing agreement with Getty Images, granting the AI startup access to a vast array of photographs and other visual content. This partnership is designed to enhance Perplexity’s AI-powered search and discovery tools, allowing users to view Getty’s creative and editorial imagery seamlessly integrated into their experience.
The agreement aims to improve the way images are displayed across Perplexity’s platforms. Key enhancements will ensure that credits and source links are prominently featured, promoting transparency and accountability. Jessica Chan, the head of content and publisher partnerships at Perplexity, emphasized the importance of accurate attribution in AI development. She stated, “Getty Images shares our belief that the future of AI-powered discovery requires respecting the creators behind the content.”
This licensing deal comes at a time when discussions around the ethical use of data in AI are intensifying. In June 2023, social media platform Reddit filed a lawsuit against AI company Anthropic, alleging unauthorized scraping of its user data. Similarly, a coalition of eight US newspapers initiated a federal court lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI last year, claiming that the companies used their articles to train generative AI models without consent.
In contrast, OpenAI has pursued a different strategy by signing agreements with various media organizations, including the Financial Times and multinational media company Axel Springer, to utilize content from their sites for training large language models (LLMs). Such collaborations reflect a growing trend in the industry where AI companies seek to establish formal partnerships with content creators to ensure compliance and ethical usage.
Perplexity’s deal with Getty Images signifies a proactive approach to addressing the concerns surrounding content usage in AI applications. By prioritizing responsible practices, the partnership sets a precedent that may influence how other AI firms engage with content providers in the future.
The visual enhancement capabilities enabled by this collaboration could lead to a richer user experience, as Perplexity aims to leverage Getty Images’ extensive library. As AI technology continues to evolve, the responsibility of ensuring ethical content use remains a crucial topic for discussion and action within the industry.
