Axel Springer Partners with OpenAI to Strengthen Journalism in the Age of AI, Germany

German media giant Axel Springer has struck a global partnership deal with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in a bid to strengthen independent journalism in the age of artificial intelligence. The agreement will see ChatGPT users receive summaries of selected global news content from Axel Springer’s media brands, such as Business Insider and Politico, while ensuring transparency by providing attribution and links to the full articles. The partnership will also involve using quality content from Axel Springer’s media brands to train OpenAI’s AI models. This collaboration comes at a time when AI technology in journalism has faced controversies, including the publication of error-laden and plagiarized AI-generated material by CNET and BuzzFeed. The details of the partnership remain vague, leaving questions about the level of human oversight and potential financial rewards for writers and editors. The journalism industry has already experienced setbacks this year, with layoffs hitting numerous publications. Axel Springer’s CEO Mathias Döpfner believes the collaboration will explore new opportunities for AI-empowered journalism and elevate the quality, societal relevance, and business model of journalism. However, concerns about the limitations and risks of using AI for nonfiction content, including potential dissemination of misleading information, remain. It remains to be seen whether this partnership will be successful in generating revenue for Axel Springer beyond enriching its executives or if it will lead to further AI content-related scandals.