Sources: Mercor and other firms gathering data for AI labs are driving demand to buy or license internal datasets from startups shutting down or being acquired (Alix Coutures/The Information)

AI development firms are actively acquiring proprietary datasets from failed or acquired startups, creating a new market for internal data assets and shifting how organizations think about data valuation during M&A activities. This trend signals that data has become a critical strategic asset for AI advancement, requiring IT leaders to reassess data governance, security, and contractual protections around internal datasets. Organizations should recognize that their accumulated data may have significant acquisition value, but this also creates risks around uncontrolled data proliferation and compliance exposure if not properly managed.