AI firms are buying companies' internal communications for massive data deals

A burgeoning market now trades corporate Slack chats, emails and other routine documents to AI developers eager for real-world work data. Companies like Mode.Inc and Polyshares broker deals that can reach six figures and require answers within 48 hours, likening the rush to early-1900s oil speculation. Major AI players—including OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and SpaceXAI—are spending billions to acquire these datasets, which they say are essential for building autonomous, computer-using agents.

Critics point out that employees rarely receive compensation or notice, and the absence of comprehensive privacy legislation leaves the legality of such sales in a gray area. Recent controversies, from Meta’s internal data-tracking experiment to Google’s stalled purchase of Spirit Airlines' records, have prompted congressional scrutiny and heightened concerns over security and consent.