Getty and Perplexity Sign Multi-Year Deal to Integrate Licensed Images into AI Search Tools
Visual content leader Getty Images has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with AI search startup Perplexity, allowing the platform to display Getty’s licensed images across its AI-powered search and discovery tools. The announcement boosted Getty’s shares by 5% on Friday, underscoring growing investor confidence in partnerships between traditional media and artificial intelligence companies.
Under the deal, Perplexity will integrate Getty’s visuals through an API, granting users access to Getty’s vast image library with proper attribution and licensing details. Each image will include credits and source links, ensuring legal compliance and transparency in AI-generated content.
The partnership comes amid growing scrutiny over AI firms’ use of copyrighted materials for training and output generation. Getty, which also licenses images to iStock and Unsplash, previously sued Stability AI over alleged image scraping. Perplexity itself has faced multiple copyright lawsuits from publishers including Japan’s Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun but has since adopted a revenue-sharing model with media partners such as TIME and Der Spiegel.
Legal experts say AI licensing agreements like this one could reshape the industry by legitimizing data use, though they note that a full licensing model may not be viable for all online content. The move aligns with Getty’s broader effort to promote safe, rights-cleared visual generation in the AI era.