In recent years, it has become widely known that tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon have gained access to a vast amount of images, videos, and other materials to train their AI models. Some of these acquisitions have been lawful, while others not so much. However, it has recently come to light that Apple joined this trend during the AI rush by striking a deal with one of the largest online image libraries, Shutterstock. As reported by Reuters, Apple, along with other companies, secured an agreement with Shutterstock in late 2022 to utilize its vast collection of stock photos, videos, and music for AI training purposes.

Although the initial cost of the deal was undisclosed, it is estimated that Apple paid between $25 to $50 million. It is likely that the agreement was expanded subsequently, according to the report.