Google ends contract with Australian data firm that helped train Bard AI
Appen said in an Australian exchange filing that it had no prior knowledge of Google's decision to terminate the contract.
Google has terminated its contract with Australian data company Appen which helped the tech giant in training its large language model (LLM) AI tools used in Bard and Search.
Appen said in an Australian exchange filing that it had no prior knowledge of Google's decision to terminate the contract.
In FY23, Appen's revenue from Google was $82.8 million at a gross margin of 26 per cent.
“The news is unexpected and disappointing, particularly considering the progress made against Appen's transformation and performance in November and December 2023,” the company said in its filing.
A Google spokesperson told The Verge that the decision to end the contract was made as “part of our ongoing effort to evaluate and adjust many of our supplier partnerships across Alphabet to ensure our vendor operations are as efficient as possible”.
At Appen, contractors help rate data quality and answers from AI models.
Appen has also helped train AI models for Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon.
“Appen continues to focus on cost management, business turnaround and delivery of high-quality AI data for its customers,” it said.
The Australian company will immediately adjust its strategic priorities following the notification of the Google contract termination and provide further details in its FY23 full-year results on February 27.
Google is working closely with Appen to make the transition “as smooth as possible.”
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
CBI searches 14 locations in connection with alleged Rs 5,717-crore bank fraud by SKS Power Generation: Report
Post Office Scheme for Senior Citizens: How much quarterly amount will you get on Rs 5 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh investments
Online Scam: Mumbai's software engineer loses Rs 5.14 crore in share trading fraud, tuition teacher and security guard arrested
Top 5 ELSS SIP mutual funds in 3 years: Know current values of Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, and Rs 15,000 monthly SIPs in each fund
11:53 AM IST