Micro1 Offers $1 Million to Train Spirit Airlines Ex-Employees in Bid for Data

Micro1 has pledged at least $1 million to train former Spirit Airlines employees in AI skills as it seeks the bankrupt carrier's corporate data. According to Sina Finance, the startup also said it would de-identify the data and remove sensitive employee records, including disciplinary files and collective bargaining materials. Micro1 CEO Ali Ansari said ordinary operating records from a healthy company can significantly improve model performance. The company said its proposal was filed before a September 9 bankruptcy court hearing that will consider the sale of the data to Google or a revised disposal process. Micro1 previously bid $12.5 million for the data and formally submitted the related commitments on Wednesday night. Last month, Google won the bankruptcy auction with a $10 million bid, while Mercor bid $7.5 million. The union representing some former Spirit Airlines employees has challenged the auction result, and the court has not yet formally approved the transaction. Micro1 said its plan goes further than Google's because Google would remove customer data but keep employee records. Google declined to comment. Micro1 also said it plans to buy other bankrupt companies' data assets.