As Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google face increasing scrutiny over the use of copyrighted content to train AI models, OpenAI has inked a significant five-year deal with News Corp, a move that could reshape the landscape of AI-driven news and media.
According to The Wall Street Journal, this landmark agreement, potentially worth $250 million, allows OpenAI to access current and archived content from News Corp’s prestigious publications. These include The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, the Times, the Sunday Times, Barron’s, MarketWatch, and others. This vast repository of content will likely be used to enhance OpenAI’s artificial intelligence models, particularly ChatGPT, by training on this extensive dataset.
Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI can display content from these publications in response to user inquiries, aiming to enrich its product offerings. Additionally, News Corp will contribute its journalistic expertise to ensure that the highest standards of journalism are maintained across OpenAI’s platforms, as highlighted in the press release.
However, there remain several unanswered questions about the specifics of the agreement. It is unclear whether the deal includes editorial or opinion content and how it will be integrated into ChatGPT’s paid (GPT-4) or free versions.
In recent months, OpenAI has secured similar partnerships with other major media companies, including The Associated Press, Axel Springer in Germany, Prisa Media in Spain, Le Monde in France, and the Financial Times. These collaborations highlight OpenAI’s strategy of building a robust content base to train its AI systems. Moreover, OpenAI has extended its reach beyond mainstream media by securing deals with social media platforms like Reddit.
For most parts, these licensing agreements provide ChatGPT access to a wide range of content for training purposes and to generate more accurate and efficient responses. However, the News Corp deal takes this a step further by allowing the use of news content to directly answer user questions.
In a press statement, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, underscored the transformative potential of this agreement, stating that it represents a pivotal moment for both journalism and technology.
Yet, the unresolved issue of data ownership remains a contentious point. The New York Times has adopted a different stance by suing OpenAI and Microsoft for “billions,” alleging unauthorized use of its paywalled content to enhance ChatGPT’s intelligence. This lawsuit underscores the complex and often contentious relationship between traditional media and emerging AI technologies.
The impact of the News Corp deal on the company’s journalists and editors is also a matter of concern. According to a report in The Guardian, layoffs are anticipated at News Corp next week, raising questions about the broader implications of such partnerships on the media workforce.
As the boundaries between AI and media continue to blur, this deal could set a precedent for future collaborations while highlighting the need for clear regulations and ethical standards in the use of copyrighted content for AI training.
Source https://www.prweek.com/article/1874481/openai-inks-multi-year-content-deal-news-corp