Axel Springer Grants OpenAI Rights to Use News Content for AI Models

Berlin-based publisher Axel Springer SE has entered into a partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to utilize content from its news outlets for the development of artificial intelligence models. Under the agreement, OpenAI will pay Axel Springer for access to articles and other content from publications such as Politico, Business Insider, Bild, and Die Welt. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. OpenAI will leverage the news content to generate answers for users’ queries through its ChatGPT tool, ensuring transparency by providing attribution and links to the original articles. This collaboration follows similar agreements between OpenAI and news publishers, including the Associated Press and the American Journalism Project. While some publishers are hesitant about AI’s potential impact on the news industry, Axel Springer sees the partnership as an opportunity to enhance journalism by leveraging AI capabilities. Radio France and Figaro in France are among European media outlets that have expressed concerns about data collection and the use of generative AI in their storytelling processes. Through this collaboration, Axel Springer aims to explore the possibilities of AI-empowered journalism and elevate the quality, societal relevance, and business model of journalism to new heights.