OpenAI and German media group Axel Springer have struck a pioneering deal that will see OpenAI’s ChatGPT summarize articles from Politico and Business Insider. Under the agreement, OpenAI will pay Axel Springer to access its paywalled content, enabling the chatbot to generate responses that include summaries of current news articles. This partnership marks the first of its kind, aiming to explore new possibilities in AI journalism and enhance the accessibility and relevance of news content.
Through ChatGPT, users worldwide can now receive summaries of selected global news from Axel Springer’s media brands, including the German tabloid Bild. In addition to providing these summaries, the chatbot’s responses will offer links to the full articles, ensuring transparency and providing further information for interested readers.
The spokesperson for Axel Springer confirmed that the media group will be compensated by OpenAI for granting access to its content. This multi-year deal is non-exclusive, meaning both parties are free to enter into new agreements in the future. While OpenAI has faced legal challenges regarding the use of copyrighted works to train ChatGPT, the company denies any wrongdoing.
Other media companies have adopted a contrasting approach by preventing ChatGPT’s web crawler from accessing their content, concerned about potential misuse and dissemination of false or offensive material. CNN, the New York Times, Disney, Bloomberg, and the Guardian are among those who have restricted access to their articles for the chatbot’s training. OpenAI has been actively working to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities, aiming to incorporate more up-to-date information and supplement the dataset used to generate responses.
Axel Springer’s CEO, Mathias Döpfner, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that it explores the opportunities of AI empowered journalism and aims to elevate the quality, relevance, and business model of journalism. Recognizing the potential threat AI poses to traditional journalism, Döpfner had previously warned about its replacement and pursued his own AI-driven ventures within the media group.
Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer, highlighted that their collaboration with Axel Springer will offer people new ways to access real-time news content through AI tools. While AI chatbots like ChatGPT can generate essays and poems within seconds, concerns remain regarding the possibility of these bots spreading false information or creating nonsensical or offensive answers, known as AI hallucinations.
Axel Springer’s spokesperson emphasized that media companies missed opportunities to establish new income sources amid the rise of platforms such as Google and Facebook. Partnering with OpenAI represents an effort to tap into the potential of AI-driven journalism and adapt to the evolving landscape.
This groundbreaking deal between OpenAI and Axel Springer sets the stage for advancements in AI-powered journalism, where artificial intelligence and authentic news reporting converge to offer users real-time, succinct, and transparent summaries of current events from renowned media sources.
