This startup wants to pay for your email and photos to train AI — and it's on an acquisition spree (www.businessinsider.com)

Mode Inc, an AI training startup, is acquiring consumer applications to build a platform that compensates individuals for sharing their data, such as emails, photos, and receipts. Recently, the company announced the acquisitions of Trimbox and QR Code Reader, increasing its total acquisitions to seven within the past year. CEO Dan Novaes emphasized the focus on everyday consumers rather than gig workers, aiming to create a system where users can earn rewards for the data generated in their daily lives. With over 100 million monthly users already participating, Mode has distributed $1 billion in earnings and incentives, drawing interest as the demand for consent-based data collection grows amidst increasing legal scrutiny over AI companies' content use. This ambitious strategy positions Mode Inc within the competitive AI data landscape alongside companies like Scale AI and Mercor, which similarly rely on large datasets to enhance machine learning models. Novaes' vision involves creating a portfolio of niche applications, potentially including services that allow users to share photo libraries for AI training. By leveraging these acquisitions, Mode Inc is not just enhancing its data collection capabilities but is also paving the way for a new model of consumer participation in AI development, ensuring that contributions are recognized and rewarded.