Millions of books died so Claude could live
Anthropic undertook "Project Panama" to digitize vast quantities of books to train its large language models like Claude.Summary
Following the launch of ChatGPT, tech companies scrambled to develop their own advanced AI, leading Anthropic to initiate "Project Panama." This massive undertaking involved accessing and digitizing huge volumes of books to feed their large language models, including the one powering Claude. The methods reportedly included using book cutters, accessing piracy websites, and utilizing enormous warehouses. The article notes that this aggressive approach mirrors efforts at other companies, and the legal and moral debates surrounding these data acquisition practices are ongoing. The episode also briefly discusses Netflix's efforts to acquire Warner Bros. and the future of movie theaters, as well as issues with Ikea's new smart buttons.
(Source：The Verge)