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Shuttered Startups Are Selling Slack and Email Archives to Train AI

SimpleClosure's new marketplace signals strong demand for real workplace data that raises fresh privacy questions.

Overview

  • SimpleClosure launched Asset Hub to help failing companies license source code, documents, Slack logs, and emails to AI developers.
  • Forbes reports the firm handled nearly 100 transactions over the past year with typical payouts between $10,000 and $100,000.
  • A former CEO said she sold her company's full Slack, email, and Jira archives for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • Privacy advocates warn these troves can expose identifiable workers and urged the Federal Trade Commission to increase oversight.
  • AI labs seek step‑by‑step workplace examples for agent training in so‑called reinforcement learning gyms, with reporting noting Anthropic leaders discussed budgets up to $1 billion and labs buying digital office worlds from groups like AfterQuery.