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Central Park is bigger than the entire country of Monaco. |
A single NYC park out-sizes a European nation. |
Real estate agents could never. |
What’s in store: |
Not Perplexity going from “oops” to “official. New research says AI works better when it stops overthinking. Mindstream Picks: Ayaneo is developing its first gaming phone. |
Read Time: 5 minutes |
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PERPLEXITY |
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AI search startup Perplexity has signed a multi-year licensing deal with Getty Images, giving it permission to display Getty photos across its AI search tools. |
The move signals a shift toward more formal partnerships after the company faced accusations of scraping and plagiarism. |
Perplexity and Getty had already been working together quietly for more than a year through Perplexity’s Publishers’ Program, which shares ad revenue when publisher content appears in search. |
This new agreement is separate and not a traditional lump-sum licence, as Perplexity does not train its own large models. No financial details were shared. |
The deal also helps clarify Perplexity’s past use of Getty images. |
Over the past year, the company faced plagiarism claims, including a case where it surfaced a Wall Street Journal article and the Getty photo used in it. |
Several outlets questioned whether this amounted to copyright infringement. |
In October, Reddit sued Perplexity, claiming the startup scraped user content at scale and bypassed technical protections. |
Reddit already licenses data to OpenAI. |
In short: |
Perplexity now has permission to use Getty images across its platform. This follows plagiarism claims and a lawsuit from Reddit over data scraping. The company is leaning on attribution and fair-use arguments to defend its approach. |
Scraping accusations 101 |
Perplexity says the Getty partnership will support clearer image display and proper credit, including links to the original source. |
Getty’s Nick Unsworth said the deal highlights the importance of consent and attribution. |
Perplexity’s Jessica Chan said the goal is to help people find answers through visual context while making it clear where content comes from. |
The focus on attribution also aligns with Perplexity’s legal stance. The company argues its use of publisher content, including paywalled material, is “fair use,” as factual information cannot be copyrighted. |
Perplexity out here like “sorry mom, I’ll do it properly this time.” - MG |
Do you think licensing deals like this actually fix AI’s copyright drama? |
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Vote for live results and see results + opinions from yesterday at the bottom of the email. |
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I’m complete when you take something away. What am I? |
Find the answer at the bottom of the email! |
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ThatNeedle Gist: A free browser extension that instantly summarises YouTube videos (in any language) so you can skim the key points before deciding if it’s worth the watch. |
Crazyface AI: A thumbnail expression editor that lets you swap faces, tweak emotions, or copy viral YouTuber reactions to craft high-CTR thumbnails, no Photoshop skills required. |
Eleven Music: An AI music studio that turns text prompts into royalty-free, broadcast-ready songs, vocals or instrumental, across any genre, no composer required. |
TIMIO: A Chrome + mobile AI assistant that flags bias in news articles and finds opposing viewpoints on the same topic, helping you sanity-check what you read in seconds. |
Cresh: A multi-agent research tool that analyzes and improves your business or startup ideas, serving up data-backed insights and answers in one place. |
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AI SCIENCE |
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Scientists at the University of Surrey have tested a new way to build AI by copying how the human brain connects its neurons. |
Their method, described in Neurocomputing, uses Topographical Sparse Mapping, which links each artificial neuron only to nearby or related ones. |
This cuts unnecessary connections and keeps accuracy high in systems like generative AI and ChatGPT. |
Dr Roman Bauer says this could help lower the huge energy use seen in today’s large models, which can use over one million kilowatt-hours to train. |
TL;DR |
Fewer, smarter connections make AI more efficient without losing accuracy. Inspired by how the brain learns and prunes neural links. Could help future neuromorphic hardware. |
Neural feng shui |
A newer version, Enhanced Topographical Sparse Mapping, also “prunes” connections during training, similar to how the brain removes weaker links as we learn. |
The team is also looking at how this approach could help shape neuromorphic computers, which are designed to work more like real brains. |
Human brains are about to be the next H200 chip - MV |
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Recommended Reading: 46,000 marketers read this newsletter to level up their careers. |
Space: Rocket Lab’s $150 million bid to buy German laser-comms firm Mynaric faces fresh scrutiny as Europe leans harder into domestic space-and-defense manufacturing.
Business: Gas service is back for roughly 3,500 North Yorkshire homes after damage to a mains pipe left areas around Settle without supply.
Music: Paddington: The Musical has arrived after nearly a decade in development, revealing a strikingly lifelike, tightly-guarded Paddington who sings and dances. |
Don’t Miss: Retro-handheld maker Ayaneo is building its first gaming phone, teasing dual cameras and possible hidden physical controls, but key details (and a US release) remain unknown. |
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Image of the Day |
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Artwork submitted by Mindstream reader Kort: “A conceptual blueprint sketch of an apple farming scene” |
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Daily Image Prompt |
A selfie of Vincent van Gogh painting "Starry Night" |
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Submit your artwork to Mindstream → |
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“If AI could join a group chat, what role would it play?” |
The know-it-all who fact-checks memes - 36% ✅ |
The quiet lurker who judges everyone - 18% |
The one who sends 3am productivity quotes - 28% |
Other - tell us! - 18% |
Your Views: |
“I love the role of guide and mentor. Asking questions leading others to think. Providing answers in response to questions.” - bjkra |
“AI hasn't achieved human level understanding of human writing, and if you believe "Star Trek", "DATA" is still wrestling with it.” - carl_d |
“AI would be the one who deciphers who’s blowing smoke and who’s telling the truth and who’s authentic and who’s fake that’s what the AI would do it by conversation” - mike |
Submit your opinions in our polls to be featured! |
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Riddle Me This Answer: a hole. |
#887.
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