Perplexity and OpenAI are deepening ties with the traditional stock-photo industry, striking parallel licensing deals with Getty Images that test how AI can coexist with creators’ rights.

Early June 22, 2026: ChatGPT deal goes public

On June 22, 2026, reporting revealed that OpenAI’s ChatGPT had entered a multi‑year licensing agreement with Getty Images, allowing the chatbot to integrate professional stock photos directly into its answers and search results.¹ Under the arrangement, ChatGPT will surface Getty’s licensed images alongside text responses, offering users visually rich outputs while ensuring the photos are used with permission and attribution.¹

The move positions ChatGPT closer to a traditional search engine that can blend authoritative imagery with AI‑generated explanations, while signaling to photographers and agencies that their work can be monetized within AI ecosystems rather than simply scraped.

Later the same day: Perplexity announces a parallel partnership

Hours later, a separate announcement confirmed that Perplexity had struck what was described as “a global multi‑year licensing agreement” with Getty Images.² Perplexity will now “show Getty Images photos in its search results,” integrating the library directly into its AI‑driven answer pages.²

In a notable distinction, Perplexity emphasized changes to presentation and user education. The company said it would “be making improvements to how it displays imagery, including image credit with link to source, to better educate users on how to use licensed imagery legally,” according to a press release.²

Converging strategies, different emphases

Both deals highlight a shared strategy: major AI platforms are moving toward licensed, clearly attributed visual content instead of relying solely on web-scraped images. OpenAI’s agreement focuses on enriching ChatGPT responses with professional photos,¹ while Perplexity couples similar access with explicit messaging about legal and ethical use of imagery.²

For Getty Images, partnering with both companies broadens distribution of its catalog and reinforces a licensing-first model in the age of generative AI, potentially offering a template for how creative industries and AI developers can align incentives rather than clash.