Cloudflare acquires Human Native to build a fair AI content licensing model
As AI demand for training data rises, Cloudflare is positioning itself as a mediator between creators and developers through the Human Native acquisition.
San Francisco-based company Cloudflare has acquired Human Native, an AI data marketplace designed to connect content creators with AI developers seeking high-quality training and inference material.
A move that reflects growing pressure to establish clearer economic rules for how online content is used by AI systems.
The acquisition is intended to help creators and publishers decide whether to block AI access entirely, optimise material for machine use, or license content for payment instead of allowing uncontrolled scraping.
Cloudflare says the tools developed through Human Native will support transparent pricing and fair compensation across the AI supply chain.
Human Native, founded in 2024 and backed by UK-based investors, focuses on structuring original content so it can be discovered, accessed and purchased by AI developers through standardised channels.
The team includes researchers and engineers with experience across AI research, design platforms and financial media.
Cloudflare argues that access to reliable and ethically sourced data will shape long-term competition in AI. By integrating Human Native into its wider platform, the company aims to support a more sustainable internet economy that balances innovation with creator rights.
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