"Last year, Microsoft committed over $100 billion of new investment toward AI. Part of that technological arms race has included training LLMs on millions of books, including some written 600 years ago. This year, Microsoft is paying back the favor by ditching its own employee library. The Verge reports that the company is closing it down and slashing news subscriptions in favor of "AI-powered learning experiences.""
"The onsite collection of books was allegedly so heavy, it once was blamed for cracking the underground parking lot pillars that supported it. That library, now housed in building 92, will now be closed, according to The Verge. The company's roughly 220,000 employees have also reportedly lost access to checking out digital copies of business books and accessing news publications like The Information."
Microsoft committed over $100 billion to AI and trained large language models on millions of books, including works centuries old. The company is closing its onsite employee library in building 92 and reducing news subscriptions, directing employees to a "more modern, AI-powered learning experience" via the Skilling Hub. The physical collection was reportedly so heavy it once damaged underground parking pillars. About 220,000 employees reportedly lost access to business e-books and publications like The Information. Microsoft states the change supports a connected learning experience and acknowledges the loss of a valued space, while questions remain about the AI sources and systems that will be used.
Read at Kotaku
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