HarperCollins Announces AI Licensing with Microsoft

HarperCollins has entered a three-year licensing agreement with Microsoft to use select nonfiction backlist titles for training AI models, contingent on author opt-ins. Authors are offered $2,500 per book, but some, like Daniel Kibblesmith, have expressed dissatisfaction with the offer. The deal, while maintaining author rights and imposing clear guardrails on AI output, aligns with HarperCollins' history of innovative business models. Despite the confidentiality of the AI partner's identity, it is speculated to be a major company, possibly Microsoft. This move comes amidst broader industry actions, such as Penguin Random House's copyright amendments to prevent AI training, and legal challenges from authors against AI companies over unauthorized use of their works.