Shutterstock pioneers a ‘research license’ with Lightricks, breaking barriers to AI training data

Shutterstock is redefining the way AI companies acquire training knowledge through a “research license” process, the first to be launched by an AI technology company. Lightricks. The partnership, announced today, allows Lightricks to train its LTXV video streaming platform using Shutterstock’s extensive HD and 4K library.

This new license faces a major problem in AI development: the high cost of obtaining good training data. It helps companies to start with a small research license to be tested and tested before committing to cheaper commercial licenses.

Making AI development easier for startups

“Many companies and model trainers have taken the unconventional approach of data scraping (instead of) making the necessary investments to achieve the quality and trust needed to create models for sale,” said Daniel Mandell, Shutterstock’s global head of licensing & AI. , in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “However, we do not think that investment in investment should be a barrier for those who want to enter this area in a positive way.”

These two approaches could change the way startups approach AI development. Craig Andrews, global PR manager for Lightricks, explains that “it’s a transition period for small, mature developers who want to explore new AI solutions without the high cost of a traditional license.”

Legal protection is a reasonable return in the age of AI

The timing is significant, coming amid legal scrutiny of AI training systems. Several major AI companies face lawsuits over the illegal use of copyrighted material to train models. Shutterstock’s approach provides a legitimate alternative and ensures that content creators are compensated.

“We’re setting standards for good AI management and making sure developers are adequately compensated for their work,” explains Andrews. “This approach not only promotes trust in the environment but also establishes a sustainable framework for AI technology.”

Revenue sharing: A win-win for developers and AI companies

Shutterstock has implemented a revenue sharing system where contributors receive 20% of revenue from data licensing products. Sponsors can also opt out of using their content for AI courses, though Mandell notes that only 1% have chosen to do so.

Lightricks wants to use licensed videos for promotion LTXV imageshis opening scene in the opening video that was released last month. The brand has already started to attract attention, with “thousands of downloads GitHub and Hugging Face,” said Andrews. One popular use case is streaming real-time video for interactive ecommerce.

The fellowship aims to address technical challenges in AI video production, particularly the inconsistency of long-form videos. “One of the biggest technical challenges in AI video production is to seamlessly navigate and edit long video segments without sacrificing quality,” says Andrews. “Shutterstock’s library of high-quality videos provides a rich source of information that helps us solve this problem.”

For Shutterstock, this partnership represents a technological shift in its business. The company has already established partnerships with major AI companies including Nvidia, Trimand OpenAI. Mandell emphasizes that the research license model can democratize access to higher education for small organizations and research institutions.

Setting new industry standards for AI development

The agreement also highlights the increasing transparency and positive attitude towards the development of AI. Lightricks made LTXV open source to encourage collaboration and creativity, while Shutterstock’s licensing system ensures fair compensation for content creators.

“The important message here is that companies, regardless of size or revenue, no longer have a reason to remove unlicensed material for educational purposes,” says Mandell. “There is a better way to enter this growing market.”

The agreement could set a new standard for how AI companies acquire training data, which could impact industry practices as concerns about AI training sources continue to grow. The success of this model could determine whether other content providers follow Shutterstock’s lead in developing flexible, accessible licensing strategies for AI development.