Why You Care
Ever wonder if the AI tools you use are playing fair with content creators? How do you ensure the images in your AI-generated results are legitimate?
AI search startup Perplexity recently announced a significant multi-year licensing deal with Getty Images. This agreement allows Perplexity to legally use Getty’s vast image library across its AI search and discovery platforms. This is big news because it signals a shift towards more formal content partnerships in the AI space. For you, this means more reliable and ethically sourced visuals in your AI search results.
What Actually Happened
Perplexity, an AI search startup, has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with Getty Images, according to the announcement. This deal grants Perplexity permission to display Getty’s images within its AI-powered search and discovery tools. The company has faced allegations of content scraping and plagiarism in the past. This new partnership aims to establish more formal content relationships, as mentioned in the release.
Interestingly, Perplexity and Getty had been collaborating for over a year, a source familiar with the deal told TechCrunch. Getty was reportedly part of Perplexity’s Publishers’ Program, which shares ad revenue with publishers when their content appears in search queries. However, this new agreement is a distinct deal. A source indicated it’s not a traditional lump sum licensing deal. This is because Perplexity does not train its own foundational models.
Why This Matters to You
This deal has practical implications for anyone using AI search tools. It addresses concerns about content legality and attribution. Now, when you see an image from Getty in your Perplexity search results, you can be more confident in its legitimate use. This fosters a more trustworthy environment for AI-driven content.
Key Benefits of the Perplexity-Getty Deal:
- Legitimized Image Use: Perplexity now has formal permission to display Getty Images.
- Improved Attribution: Search results will include credits and links back to original sources.
- Enhanced Trust: Users can rely more on the ethical sourcing of visual content.
- Reduced Copyright Concerns: Aims to mitigate future plagiarism accusations.
Imagine you’re researching a presentation and need high-quality images. With this partnership, your AI search tool can provide visually rich results with proper credit. This saves you time and ensures you’re not inadvertently using copyrighted material. How important is it to you that the AI tools you use respect intellectual property?
Jessica Chan, head of content and publisher partnerships at Perplexity, highlighted the importance of this shift. “Attribution and accuracy are fundamental to how people should understand the world in an age of AI,” she said in a statement. “Together, we’re helping people discover answers through visual storytelling while ensuring they always know where that content comes from and who created it.”
The Surprising Finding
What’s particularly interesting is how this agreement appears to legitimize some of Perplexity’s prior use of Getty’s stock photos. Perplexity had previously faced several plagiarism accusations, as detailed in the blog post. In one instance, the startup was called out for using content from a Wall Street Journal article, including a Getty photo, without clear permission. This new deal, therefore, acts as a retroactive validation, to some extent.
This challenges the common assumption that past content scraping issues permanently tarnish a company’s reputation. Instead, it shows a pathway for AI companies to resolve these disputes through formal partnerships. It indicates that even after allegations, companies can work towards legal and ethical frameworks. This move could set a precedent for other AI firms facing similar content usage challenges.
What Happens Next
This multi-year licensing deal suggests a future where AI content platforms prioritize formal agreements with publishers. We can expect to see more such partnerships emerging over the next 12-24 months. This will likely involve other major image libraries and news organizations.
For example, imagine a scenario where your favorite AI writing assistant can pull licensed images directly. This would streamline your content creation workflow. Perplexity’s emphasis on attribution is part of a broader strategy. The company defends its use of publisher content, even paywalled material, as ‘fair use’ if publicly available facts are not copyrightable, the technical report explains. This deal strengthens their position by adding explicit licensing for images.
Our actionable advice for readers is to stay informed about the content sourcing policies of the AI tools you use. Look for transparency and clear attribution. This trend indicates a maturing AI industry. It is moving towards more responsible content integration. This will ultimately benefit both creators and users. The industry implications are clear: ethical sourcing is becoming a competitive differentiator.