AI Data Labeler Handshake Buys Cleanlab, An Acquisition Target Of Multiple Others

AI Data Labeler Handshake Buys Cleanlab, An Acquisition Target Of Multiple Others

AI data labeler Handshake acquires Cleanlab to transform training data quality AI data labeler Handshake has acquired data quality startup Cleanlab in a strategic acqui-hire designed to supercharge the accuracy of training data for foundational AI models. The deal brings nine key researchers—including three MIT PhD co-founders—to Handshake's research organization, signaling a major bet on automated quality assurance as the next frontier in AI infrastructure. For enterprises racing to deploy reliable AI systems, this merger addresses a critical pain point: garbage in, garbage out. Credit: Handshake From campus recruiting to AI data powerhouse Handshake's journey to becoming a serious player in AI data infrastructure reads like a masterclass in strategic pivoting. Founded in 2013 as a college recruiting platform connecting students with employers, the company quietly launched its human data-labeling division just over a year ago. The timing proved prescient. As generative AI models …