Microsoft Corporation has reached a three-year agreement with HarperCollins to use select nonfiction titles for AI model training, while announcing Windows and security updates at Microsoft Ignite 2024.
HarperCollins AI Training Agreement
HarperCollins confirmed in a statement made to Bloomberg that the agreement will allow “limited use of select nonfiction backlist titles for training AI models.” Authors can opt in or decline participation. Children’s book author Daniel Kibblesmith revealed he was offered $2,500 for his book “Santa’s Husband” through screenshots posted on Bluesky, though HarperCollins has stated the program is specifically for nonfiction titles. When asked about acceptable compensation, Kibblesmith stated, “I’d probably do it for a billion dollars. I’d do it for an amount of money that wouldn’t require me to work anymore, since that’s the end goal of this technology.”
According to Bloomberg, News Corp signed an agreement in May 2024 with OpenAI covering content from Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch. Microsoft has worked on AI initiatives with Reuters, Hearst, and Axel Springer.
Microsoft Ignite 2024: Security and AI Integration
Security Enhancements
According to a Windows 11 Survey Report by Techaisle (September 2024), commissioned by Microsoft, Windows 11 has achieved:
- 3x reported reduction in firmware attacks
- 2.9x fewer instances of credential theft compared to Windows 10
The company introduced the Windows Resiliency Initiative, addressing four key areas:
- Reliability improvements based on July incident learnings
- App operation without admin privileges
- Enhanced app and driver controls
- Improved phishing attack prevention
Quick Machine Recovery will be available to Windows Insider Program in early 2025, enabling IT administrators to implement remote fixes on non-booting PCs without needing physical access to the PC.
AI and Developer Tools
Microsoft announced Windows Copilot Runtime (WCR) features:
- Phi 3.5 Silica model optimization for Snapdragon X series NPU
- Four new Imaging APIs in Windows Copilot Runtime available in Windows App SDK 1.7 Experimental 2 release in January:
- Image super resolution
- Image segmentation
- Object erase
- Image description
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Windows 365 Link
The new Windows 365 Link device, now in preview, will become generally available for purchase in select markets at $349 starting April 2025, some of its features are:
- Design: Compact, fanless, and lightweight
- Performance: Boots in seconds, wakes instantly from sleep, and offers local processing for video conferencing solutions such as Microsoft Teams meetings and Webex by Cisco
- Features: Dual 4K monitor support, four USB ports, audio port
- Security: No local data storage, mandatory security baselines that cannot be disabled
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet Port
Expert Commentary
Sandra Lee, Group Chief Information Security Officer, London Stock Exchange Group said: “Windows 365 and Windows 11 provided us with the capability, the operational resilience, the security that we needed to be able to provide a secure platform on which to build our products and services off.”
Vineet Gupta, Head of Employee Experience, HP said: “Now with Windows 365, we have one integrated solution that leads to security, that leads to cost efficiency, that leads to much better employee productivity and employee experience.”
Industry Context
The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement. Perplexity AI Inc., another AI startup, has faced similar lawsuits, according to the Bloomberg report. These legal actions come as technology companies seek to secure licensed, high-quality text sources for AI model training from publishers.
