One of Goliad’s core missions is to support the preservation of human-generated content on the internet, encompassing material from diverse sources, subject matters, and viewpoints. We are committed to archiving this content regardless of its political perspective, accuracy, or even the presence of bigotry or hate speech. Our aim is to ensure that the vast spectrum of human expression, both past and present, is retained for future generations in a usable format.
However, recent advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly the development of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, have significantly complicated this mission. The value of the content we preserve has increased, making it more challenging to collect and share under our usual operating procedures. Content providers now express concerns about how we will use their material, fearing that its inclusion in our archives could hinder their future monetization efforts. In some instances, these providers have even begun to request payment for access to their content.
Goliad operates on a philosophy that prioritizes in-kind donations of services, striving to minimize cash donations to only what is absolutely necessary for our operations. This approach underpins our decision not to pay for content acquisition. Our current policy imposes restrictions on how the archived content can be used, with these restrictions typically becoming more lenient as the content ages. For practical and organizational reasons, we limit the distribution of archived content to high-impact use cases that contribute positively to society or that expose societal issues as a catalyst for constructive change. This approach aligns with Goliad’s overarching goal of leveraging technology for the betterment of society.
-Sam