Frequently asked questions

The best data for AI training is data a model cannot learn from the public web: rights-cleared records of how real work gets done — operating records, expert demonstrations with the reasoning shown, and code with its review history. Quality is judged on provenance, rights, completeness and whether the record shows a decision and its outcome, not on raw volume.

AI labs and the training-data companies that supply them buy data. Buyers that publish programmes include micro1, Mercor, Scale AI and Handshake AI. Published ranges run from $20,000 to over $3 million per company (buyer pages checked November 2026), and most completed sales are far below the ceilings.

A lab or its supplier defines a specification, reviews a metadata-only manifest (systems, years, record counts — no raw records), sees a redacted sample under NDA, then signs a licence directly with the company that owns the data. De-identification happens before transfer. That route is described in full in the sourcing guide on this site.

No. Best Data for AI is a sourcing guide published by BestDataForAI.com, which also operates a data-licensing introduction service. BestDataForAI.com helps U.S. companies with 20+ employees license their operating records — email, chat, CRM and project data — to AI labs and training-data buyers. Owners keep ownership of their data; valuation starts with a metadata-only manifest, and no raw data is shared to get an estimate.

Nothing on this site. Labs use the request-supply form to describe a specification; any commercial terms are agreed in writing with the data owner and any supplier involved before anything is delivered.