OpenAI has long utilized forums like Reddit to train its AI models. Recently, OpenAI has formalized this relationship through an official partnership with Reddit. This follows a similar agreement with Stack Overflow, which sparked user dissatisfaction. These deals highlight the lucrative future of AI training data.
Reddit, aiming for profitability, decided last year to monetize its previously free API. One reason for this change was the widespread scraping of Reddit data by AI companies, including OpenAI. As a result, ChatGPT was partly trained using Reddit data, unbeknownst to Reddit at the time.
Stronger Integration Than with Google
Reddit, now a publicly traded company, has shifted towards AI-centric partnerships. In February, Reddit licensed its user-generated content to Google, earning an estimated $60 million annually. Now, Reddit has struck a similar deal with OpenAI, allowing the use of Reddit data for AI training and integrating Reddit posts directly into ChatGPT responses via Reddit’s Data API.
This agreement with OpenAI differs from previous content deals. OpenAI has already secured partnerships with various companies for data training. Last year, OpenAI collaborated with The Associated Press, and this year, it inked a deal with Stack Overflow.
User Revolts Have Minimal Impact
When Reddit decided to monetize its API, a significant portion of the social media platform went dark in protest. The change rendered third-party Reddit app alternatives financially unviable, leading to the closure or monetization of apps like Apollo, Reddit Is Fun, and Relay.
Reddit remained unfazed by these protests. Despite users emphasizing their role in generating the platform’s content, Reddit’s management offered little more than early stock access to appease them. Initially skeptical about Reddit’s IPO success, the company has seen a substantial boost from its AI deals, with Google providing annual payments and OpenAI potentially following suit.
Platform Evolution
Reddit’s nearly two decades of user-generated content cover discussions on virtually every topic. This extensive database informs ChatGPT on a broad spectrum of perspectives. While OpenAI will verify the accuracy of this content, it does not permit external audits of its data usage.
In contrast, Stack Overflow’s data, focused on developer questions and answers, is inherently more structured and reliable. High-quality answers on Stack Overflow are promoted through a democratic voting system, unlike Reddit’s varied motivations for upvoting posts.
Stack Overflow Protest
Stack Overflow users also resisted the platform’s AI partnership. Many sought to delete their posts, fearing that AI could eventually replace them. Stack Overflow responded by refusing deletions or even banning users, arguing that contributions are valuable to other developers. This retention ensures Stack Overflow remains a rich resource for AI training.
The Future of AI Training Data
This trend of user protests against AI data use may recur as more forums enter agreements with companies like Google or OpenAI. However, these protests tend to be short-lived and insufficiently impactful to change outcomes. Reddit and Stack Overflow thus secure new revenue streams through AI deals. User-generated content is not owned by users, according to most terms of service, leaving migration to alternative platforms as the only real option—an unlikely choice given historical trends.
Conclusion
OpenAI’s partnership with Reddit underscores the reality that user-generated content is not owned by its creators. Despite user protests, AI deals are proving lucrative for platforms like Reddit and Stack Overflow. As AI continues to grow, the value of training data from these platforms will only increase, cementing their roles in the AI ecosystem. If you want to stay informed about the latest developments in AI and content deals, be sure to follow our updates and join discussions on platforms like Reddit.
