How Dead Startups Are Fueling AI: The Surprising Data Goldmine

When Keelan Miskell started winding down his crypto startup, he didn't think its data was worth much. But as AI labs scramble for training data, defunct startups are finding their digital remains are in high demand. This emerging market sees companies like Miskell's selling user-generated content, transaction logs, and other data to AI developers hungry for diverse datasets. The trend highlights a growing tension: data that was once considered worthless may now be a valuable asset, raising questions about privacy, consent, and the ethics of repurposing information collected for different purposes. For AI companies, dead startups offer a shortcut to hard-to-find data, potentially accelerating model development but also risking legal and reputational fallout. As the AI boom continues, expect more forgotten startups to be mined for their data—and more debates over who really owns the digital past.