Dead Airline’s Emails Just Became a $10 Million AI Prize

Google paid $10 million at auction for Spirit Airlines' internal digital records after the airline shut down following its second bankruptcy. The purchase includes 100 million employee emails, 500 million Teams messages, and 30 million lines of custom software code. AI companies are increasingly seeking this type of real-world operational data as public internet content no longer suffices to improve their models. The sale could set a new precedent for how bankrupt companies value their digital archives.