Web Scraping for AI Training

unpack the value of training data

Scraping is a perfect tool for AI training datasets as the web is full of public organic data that can lead to powerful AI models.

Here's our overview based on years of crawling data for AI training.

AI Training Data crawling visualization

AI Training Data Use Cases

top reasons to crawl ai training data websites

Training AI models requires access to diverse and high-quality data. Web scraping enables you to collect such data from platforms like Reddit, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Online platforms offer a wealth of user-generated and rich multimedia content that can be used to train AI models for LLMs, computer vision, and other applications.

By leveraging web scraping, businesses and researchers can build datasets that are current, comprehensive, and tailored to their AI training goals.

Some real-life scenarios by Scrapfly users

LLM training requires vast amounts of data, and scraping platforms like Reddit and YouTube provides access to rich user-generated content such as posts, comments and even content and interaction metadata.

These sources contain diverse datasets including discussions, opinions, and engagement metrics, which can help train LLM models fit for sentiment analysis, recommendation systems, and general human-like text generation.

Automating content collection ensures that your datasets are comprehensive, current, and tailored to your specific LLM training needs.

AI models often require specialized datasets tailored to specific industries or use cases. Web scraping allows you to customize data collection from platforms like LinkedIn or Reddit .

Extract only the data you need, such as industry-specific discussions, role-based user profiles, or niche visual content.

These custom datasets then can be used to extend existing LLM models through techniques like Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).

For Natural Language Processing (NLP), collecting conversational data is critical. Platforms like Reddit and Instagram are ideal for scraping real-world text data.

Extract data such as comments, captions, and hashtags to train AI models for sentiment analysis, language translation, and contextual understanding.

NLP training benefits significantly from diverse and authentic datasets provided by scraping user interactions across platforms.

Training AI models for computer vision requires large datasets of images and videos. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram are rich sources for visual data collection.

Scrape thumbnails, image metadata, and tagged content to create datasets for object detection, image classification, and facial recognition models.

Web scraping helps you access the volume and variety of data needed to train robust and reliable computer vision models.

Top AI Training Data Scraping Targets

the most scraped ai training data targets today

Web Scraping Linkedin.com

LinkedIn is the leading platform for professional lead searches, connecting lead seekers with opportunities from top companies worldwide. It offers advanced search filters, personalized recommendations, and tools to showcase professional profiles

LinkedIn is also a valuable resource for finding company info aggregation and related talent connections.

guide for web scraping linkedin.com using Python or Javascript

How to Scrape Linkedin.com

For more on scraping LinkedIn see our introduction guide which covers everything you'd need to know about scraping LinkedIn lead listings, comments, search and other details.

Web Scraping Reddit.com

Reddit.com is one of the world’s largest online communities, offering a platform for discussions, news, and entertainment across countless topics. It is organized into thousands of niche communities, known as subreddits, where users can share content, engage in conversations, and discover trends.

Reddit.com is also a valuable platform for businesses and creators to connect with targeted audiences, gather feedback, and promote their products or services through authentic engagement.

guide for web scraping reddit.com using Python or Javascript

How to Scrape Reddit.com

For more on scraping Crunchbase see our introduction guide which covers everything you'd need to know about scraping Crunchbase company pages, reviews and other details.

Web Scraping X.com

X.com is a leading platform for real-time communication and updates, offering users a space to share ideas, news, and conversations in short, concise posts. It connects individuals, businesses, and communities, making it a hub for trending topics and global discussions.

X.com is also a valuable platform for businesses and influencers to engage with audiences, build their brand, and share timely updates through its advertising and promotional tools.

guide for web scraping x.com using Python or Javascript

How to Scrape X.com

For more on scraping x.com see our introduction guide which covers everything you'd need to know about scraping Twitter posts, comments, search and other details.

Web Scraping Instagram.com

Instagram.com is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, known for its focus on visual content such as photos, videos, and stories. It offers tools for users to share moments, connect with communities, and discover trends, making it a hub for creativity and inspiration.

Instagram.com is also a valuable platform for businesses and influencers to build their brand, engage with audiences, and drive sales through its advertising and shopping features.

guide for web scraping instagram.com using Python or Javascript

How to Scrape Instagram.com

For more on scraping Instagram see our introduction guide which covers everything you'd need to know about scraping Instagram post, comments, search and other details.

Web Scraping Stackexchange.com

StackExchange.com is a leading Q&A platform for knowledge sharing, featuring a network of specialized communities covering topics like programming, science, engineering, and more. It enables users to ask questions, share expertise, and collaborate on problem-solving in a structured and reliable environment.

StackExchange.com is also a valuable resource for professionals and enthusiasts to gain insights, build their reputation, and contribute to a global knowledge base.

Web Scraping Youtube.com

YouTube.com is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, hosting millions of videos across categories like entertainment, education, music, and more. It offers tools for creators to share content, connect with audiences, and monetize their work, making it a hub for creativity and discovery.

YouTube.com is also a valuable platform for businesses and influencers to reach global audiences through targeted advertising and video content.

AI Training Data Made Easy

don't let the complexities of ai training data data hold your business back

from scrapfly import ScrapeConfig, ScrapflyClient, ScrapeApiResponse

client = ScrapflyClient(key="API KEY")

api_response: ScrapeApiResponse = client.scrape(
  ScrapeConfig(
    # add real estate property url
    url='https://www.instagram.com/p/DD-UZnOsiPW/',
    # enable bypass anti-scraping protection
    asp=True,
    # enable headless browser if necessary
    render_js=True,
    # use AI to extract data
    extraction_model='social_media_post'
  )
)
# use AI extracted data
print(api_response.scrape_result['extracted_data']['data'])
# or parse the html yourself 
print(api_response.scrape_result.content)
import { 
    ScrapflyClient, ScrapeConfig 
} from 'jsr:@scrapfly/scrapfly-sdk';

const client = new ScrapflyClient({ key: "API KEY" });

let api_response = await client.scrape(
    new ScrapeConfig({
        url: 'https://www.instagram.com/p/DD-UZnOsiPW/',
        // enable bypass anti-scraping protection
        asp: true,
        // enable headless browser if necessary
        render_js: true,
        // use AI to extract data
        extraction_model: 'social_media_post'  // or reviews
    })
);
// use AI extracted data
console.log(api_response.result['extracted_data']['data'])
// or parse the HTML yourself
console.log(api_response.result['content'])
http https://api.scrapfly.io/scrape \
key==$SCRAPFLY_KEY \
url==https://www.instagram.com/p/DD-UZnOsiPW/ \
asp==true \
render_js==true \
extraction_model=social_media_post
Output
1

Send an API Request

bypass any blocking and use a real web browser
2

Get Data & Screenshots

get html, browser data and page screenshots
3

Extract Value with AI & LLM

use LLM prompts and AI auto parsers to find data
Web Scraping API Web Scraping API

Web Scraping API

Screenshot API Screenshot API

Extraction API

Screenshot API Screenshot API

Screenshot API

Web Scraping API

Web Scraping API

Unlock the Real Power of Web Scraping

Power through scraping challenges using intelligent tools that save time and maximize results with the best success rate and cutting-edge features

Extraction API

Extraction API

Realize the Potential of Your Data

Maximize your efficiency with an AI-powered extraction process designed to save you time. Effortlessly extract data with AI, LLMs, and customizable templates

Screenshot API

Screenshot API

Effortlessly Capture the Visual Web

Capture web page screenshots effortlessly using real browsers optimized for screenshots

Seamlessly Integrate with Frameworks & Platforms

Easily integrate Scrapfly with your favorite tools and platforms, or customize workflows with our Python and TypeScript SDKs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to unblock access to AI training data rich websites?

While scraping websites for AI training is legal, some websites may block access to their data if they can detect robot-like behavior. For this, you can fortify you scrapers against indentifcation yourself using tools and techniques covered in our blog here or you can leave it to Web Scraping API to handle it for you!

Is web scraping AI training data legal?

Yes, generally web scraping publicly visible data for AI training is legal in most places around the world. However, this is still a highly contentious and new issue so it's best to avoid scraping Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for AI training. For more see our in-depth web scraping laws article.

What AI training data can be scraped?

The data entirely depends on AI being trained but generally user generated content like comments, reviews, tutorials and other are ideal for LLM training. For other kinds of AI training images, videos and even code snippets can be scraped.

What is a Web Scraping API?

Web Scraping API is a service that abstracts away the complexities and challenges of web scraping and data extraction. This allows developers to focus on creating software rather than dealing with issues like web scraping blocking and other data access challenges.

How can I access Web Scraping API?

Web Scraping API can be accessed in any http client like curl, httpie or any http client library in any programming language. For first-class support we offer Python and Typescript SDKs.

Are Proxies enough to scrape data for AI training?

No, most modern websites can identify proxies and blocking access. To bypass blocking you'll need to use combination of new bypass tools and techniques or defer these steps to a service like Web Scraping API .