The Startup Helping Creators Track and License Work Used by AI

Writers and other creators are increasingly worried that artificial intelligence training models will suck up their work without compensating them. A new Los Angeles–based startup called SmarterLicense is selling a fix: a tool that tracks when a creator’s work is used on the internet, for AI or other purposes.

The two-year-old startup, which launched its product earlier this month with six employees, helps creators license their intellectual property without the cost of hiring a lawyer. (Licensing agreements drafted by lawyers can cost up to $1,200, according to SmarterLicense founder and CEO Liz Hagelthorn.)