NEW YORK, NY (December 18, 2023) - Latimer.ai is excited to announce a license agreement with New York Amsterdam News that gives access to an extensive library of historically accurate data to further train the soon to be released Large Language Model (LLM). Latimer is building the premier online Artificial Intelligence (AI) resource for accurate information and bias-free interaction. The company is constructing a LLM that represents the future of AI, where these models are built to better serve distinct audiences.

“As LLMs evolve it’s becoming increasingly evident that simply ingesting all the words on the open internet is not the best strategy, especially if the goal is data accuracy and bias free interactions,” says Latimer CEO, John Pasmore. “LLMs will need high quality training data, which is why we’ve aligned with a respected resource like the Amsterdam News.”

New York Amsterdam News, headquartered in Harlem, New York, was founded on December 4, 1909, and today is widely regarded as the nation’s most influential and oldest continuously published Black newspaper. The company has had many significant innovations. It was the second Black newspaper, after the Chicago Defender, to be admitted to the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) in October 1930, of which it is still a member. And in 1936, it became the first and, to this day, the only Black newspaper that was unionized in all departments by the Newspaper Guild of New York, Local 3. By 1961, Amsterdam News had become the largest weekly community newspaper in the nation.

It is this deep well of content, both in local New York City and national news that led to the alignment between Latimer and Amsterdam News. Both companies have a vested interest in working together; while Latimer is securing proprietary data to fulfill its mission, Amsterdam News is committed to keeping the publication at the forefront of technology. Although the initial license agreement is exclusive, the two entities are committed to exploring how other outlets can access this treasure trove of data. 

“We spent several months talking about how we can work together, and we look at this as just the first step within a relationship that must evolve, so we can share our content with the widest audience, and ultimately as a news organization, be compensated for the unique content we continue to create serving America’s largest Black and Brown community as we have done for 114 years,” says Elinor Tatum, CEO and owner of Amsterdam News. 

“We’re in complete agreement with Elinor and Amsterdam News,” adds Pasmore. “AI and LLMs in particular are so new, that we’ve built in some flexibility to ensure that our relationship remains mutually beneficial.”

Consumers looking to experience the new platform can join the waitlist on the Latimer website at www.latimer.ai. Latimer will officially launch in January 2024.

ABOUT LATIMER

AI is amplifying the bias, inaccuracy and erasure in Black cultural data. Latimer was built to solve this. Founded and led by serial entrepreneur John N. Pasmore, Latimer has gathered some of the most notable names across various industries to create a more inclusive and equitable platform. Named for Lewis Latimer, a Black inventor whose legacy and historical scientific contributions are often overlooked, the LLM provides users with more accurate details, reflecting the experience, culture and history of Black and Brown people. To learn more, or join the waitlist, please visit www.latimer.ai.