Associated Press has announced a licensing deal with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to provide its news archive for training OpenAI’s artificial intelligence systems. The agreement involves OpenAI licensing part of AP’s text archive, while AP gains access to OpenAI’s technology and product expertise. The specifics of the technology and product expertise that AP will be able to utilize are yet to be disclosed. Both organizations believe in the responsible use of AI systems and aim to benefit from each other’s expertise in their respective industries.
The purpose of this collaboration is to enhance and improve OpenAI’s large language models, which require extensive training using various sources of written content, such as news articles, books, and social media posts. It is worth noting that AP does not employ AI in its news stories and remains cautious about the standards surrounding generative AI.
OpenAI expressed its support for the critical role of journalism and intends to learn from AP’s insights to further enhance its AI models, as stated by Brad Lightcap, the Chief Operating Officer at OpenAI. However, the deal comes at a time when OpenAI is facing an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission over potential deceptive privacy practices or harm to consumers.
Concerns have been raised by congressional leaders about the accuracy and false statements that may be perpetuated by AI large language models. Some book authors have also voiced their concerns about their works being used for AI training without compensation. In fact, a group of 4,000 writers recently wrote a letter to OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and other developers, requesting fair compensation for the use of their works.
In light of these concerns, comedian Sarah Silverman has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that her book was ingested without her permission. She claimed that it may have been sourced from a shadow library of pirated works. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasizing the importance of government intervention to mitigate the risks associated with powerful AI systems.
While the financial details of the licensing deal have not been disclosed by either party, this collaboration signifies a significant step in the alliance between journalism and AI technology. AP’s extensive archive will contribute to OpenAI’s AI systems, enabling advancements that can ultimately benefit the news industry.
