OpenAI and Microsoft have been hit with yet another lawsuit over copyright infringement, this time by eight major US newspapers. The newspapers allege that the tech giants used their reporters’ work without permission to train AI models.
The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, claims that OpenAI and Microsoft utilized the newspapers’ content to develop their AI models, resulting in the unauthorized use of original news articles. Frank Pine, executive editor for the MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing, expressed outrage at the situation, highlighting the significant time and resources invested by news organizations in collecting and reporting news.
Moreover, concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of AI-generated news pieces. Instances where misinformation was disseminated through AI-generated content were cited, such as fictitious health recommendations attributed to reputable newspapers. This underscores the importance of responsible use of AI technology in news dissemination.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson from OpenAI emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting news organizations and stated that discussions would be initiated with the aggrieved parties to address the issue. This legal battle follows a similar lawsuit by the New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft for unauthorized use of its original articles.
The New York Times argued that the tech companies’ actions did not qualify as fair use and were driven by profit motives rather than transformative purposes. While previous attempts at negotiation failed, the lawsuits signal a potential shift in the dynamics between AI technology and the news industry.
Several other news outlets, including The Intercept, Raw Story, and AlterNet, have also taken legal action against OpenAI for copyright infringement. These developments highlight the evolving landscape of AI and the media industry, paving the way for discussions on the ethical use of technology in content creation.
