Google Scoops Up Spirit Airlines' Data for $10 Million AI Boost

Google has agreed to buy internal business data from bankrupt Spirit Airlines for $10 million. The dataset includes employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, spreadsheets, and calendars from Spirit, as well as marketing, productivity, and operations data.

The acquired data will be used by Google for product development and artificial intelligence model training. According to a spokesperson, the company will not receive any personal information from the dataset, as a third party will scrub it before handing it over.

A US bankruptcy judge is set to consider approving the sale at a hearing on Wednesday. Spirit Airlines received a competing bid of $7.5 million from AI data company Mercor.

Spirit Airlines shut down operations in May after high jet fuel costs and failed restructuring attempts led to its collapse. The airline has since sold off other assets, including takeoff and landing slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport.