## Read more for tips on:

- **Skipping the data grind** with easy access to high-quality, ready-to-use AI training data. 
- **Building and launching AI projects faster**—without needing a full in-house data team. 
- **Protecting your business** with ethically sourced, privacy-compliant data that keeps your models responsible and legal. 

AI is changing everything in business, from the smallest start-up to the biggest enterprise, but its future depends on just one thing: data. The newest and most advanced AI developments need lots of it to be built, trained and fine-tuned over the AI model lifecycle. But if we humans are what we eat, the same goes for artificial intelligence models fed on bad data.

So, what’s the solution? Quick, easy access to high-quality, secure, diverse and ethically-sourced datasets without the need for in-house expertise or existing AI models and data. But if like many enterprise leaders, you’re trying to understand how AI could work for you (or wondering where to even begin), [data marketplaces](https://www.defined.ai/datasets)—like [Defined.ai](https://www.defined.ai/)—can help.

## What is a data marketplace?

You can buy, sell or trade pretty much anything you can think of on global digital marketplaces. Online shopping means you can compare hundreds, thousands, even millions of products and services to find exactly what you’re looking for. Data is no different: gathering groups of [text](https://www.defined.ai/medical-text), [speech](https://www.defined.ai/speech), [audio](https://defined.ai/music), [images](https://defined.ai/datasets/financial-transactions-images) and [video](https://www.defined.ai/content-media) files (referred to as datasets) in one place, data marketplaces make AI-ready training data easy to secure.

Looking for bulk or volume to build and scale artificial intelligence or something more niche for a specific action, result or customer? Data marketplaces (also known as AI marketplaces) provide data for all types of AI models, from [generative AI](https://defined.ai/generative-ai) and [computer vision](https://defined.ai/computer-vision) to [natural language processing](https://defined.ai/nlp) and [conversational AI](https://defined.ai/speech-recognition). And if your business has lots of its own data, don’t sit on it—[sell it](https://defined.ai/partnerships)!

## Who benefits from the use of a data marketplace?

The short answer is: almost anyone! As AI products and services are democratized and become accessible to more and more people, data marketplaces make using AI [simple and convenient](https://www.defined.ai/faq). You don’t even have to be a computer scientist or data engineer to use them (though having a few of them on hand never hurts), which is great for growing companies that may not have this kind of expertise readily available.

Even though enterprises might be able to invest more in AI development and deployment—or already have operational models deployed—data marketplaces still haven’t reached their potential.

Gartner® believes that “these marketplaces will become indispensable and by 2028, over 50% of AI projects in enterprises will involve an AI marketplace transaction of sharing or acquiring AI assets, up from less than 5% today”. So, big or small, services or data—there’s something for everyone!

When it comes to industries using AI, the potential use cases keep expanding. For example, [IT services](https://defined.ai/generative-ai), [healthcare](https://www.defined.ai/datasets/medical-dialogues-audio), [banking](https://www.defined.ai/banking), [finance](https://www.defined.ai/insurance) and [manufacturing](https://defined.ai/computer-vision) all manage mountains of specialized data. AI models that can use data analytics to intuitively recommend actions can create huge efficiencies and drive growth.

## What value does a data marketplace offer companies?

So, we’ve covered the basics of what a data marketplace is and who they’re ideal for—but what does this actually mean for you, your business and your new AI model?

**1. Speed to market.** 
Building and training your own advanced AI models is time-consuming. [Ready-to-use datasets](https://www.defined.ai/datasets) and [expert AI services](https://www.defined.ai/generative-ai-services) accelerate the process, reducing time-to-market and increasing your competitive advantage.

**2. Quality.**
In AI training, data quality means how accurate, complete, consistent and relevant the information is. The higher the quality, the better your model will perform and the more reliable it will be. Curated data and [expert fine-tuning](https://www.defined.ai/category/evaluation-of-experience) mean you’ll realize the most accurate and reliable version of your model.

**3. Cost.**
Traditional data collection is resource-intensive, particularly for small and mid-market businesses. Off-the-shelf datasets help businesses reduce operational overhead and reallocate resources toward innovation.

>**By 2030, organizations leveraging AI marketplaces will achieve 30% lower cost on data science and AI programs, compared with those organizations foregoing AI marketplaces.** — _Garter®, Emerging Tech: Research Roundup for AI Marketplaces, 2025_

## What’s the advantage of buying AI training data from Defined.ai's data marketplace?

[Defined.ai](https://defined.ai/) offers [high-quality training data](https://defined.ai/datasets) and [end-to-end services](https://www.defined.ai/generative-ai-services) for AI—but what separates us from other data marketplaces and artificial intelligence companies? It’s simple: prioritizing [ethical data sourcing, responsible data use and strong AI privacy protections](https://connect.defined.ai/ethical-ai-manifesto).

We source all our data ethically, with explicit consent from contributors. We champion fair labor practices, guaranteeing equitable compensation for our collaborators. We comply with international data security standards to protect the confidentiality and integrity of client data. And we are committed to transparency to build trust and accountability, in our own products and services and on the path to globally responsible AI.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WM_wTh7wrkY?si=IAi3mZCd1KGyEUis" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Why does all that matter? Because it not only means your model will be built and trained on the best data and with the highest-quality services, but also you and your company will stay on the [right side of the law](https://defined.ai/blog/legal-counsel-on-ethical-ai). AI training is coming under increasing scrutiny, with companies being hit with [multi-million-dollar fines](https://www.cio.com/article/2069449/french-regulator-fines-google-271m-over-generative-ai-copyright-issue.html) for taking [privacy and copyright risks](https://www.fastcompany.com/91175853/ai-startup-anthropic-gets-sued-allegations-large-scale-theft) with the data they use. So, whether you’re just starting with AI or have already deployed it, now is the time to get on the right track to avoid costly lawsuits and reputational damage.

## A data marketplace backed by industry recognition

Defined.ai’s commitment to delivering high-quality, ethically-sourced datasets and AI services has established us as a trusted partner for the world’s leading tech companies. And Gartner® has recognized us as a Sample Vendor in ten reports in the last eight months, including Emerging Tech: Top AI Marketplace Use Cases for Generative AI, 2025, Emerging Tech: Specialized Tech Innovators in AI Marketplaces, 2024, Hype Cycle for Data Management, 2024 and Hype Cycle for Data, Analytics and AI Programs and Practices, 2024.

## Your data marketplace journey with Defined.ai starts here

Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, explore our [data marketplace](https://defined.ai/datasets) and [AI services](https://www.defined.ai/generative-ai-services) to discover how we can help creating innovative artificial intelligence solutions for your business.



###### Gartner, Emerging Tech: Research Roundup for AI Marketplaces, 2025, 26 March 2025, Annette Zimmermann, Tuong Nguyen, Nick Ingelbrecht, Aakanksha Bansal, John Santoro.

###### Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

###### GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

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The Defined.ai Data Marketplace: The Future of Buying AI Data