OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization, has announced its partnership with the American Journalism Project (AJP) to support local news outlets in experimenting with AI. As part of this collaboration, OpenAI will provide millions of dollars in funding to AJP, empowering them to explore the potential applications of AI within the local news sector. Additionally, OpenAI will grant approximately 10 of AJP’s current beneficiaries with funding, allowing them to develop their own AI tools.
The main objective of this partnership is to harness the power of AI to enhance journalism rather than replace it. AJP aims to utilize generative AI to improve workflows, enabling editorial staff to focus more on impactful reporting and providing verified information crucial to their communities. By incorporating AI technology into newsrooms, local organizations hope to increase sustainability and produce high-quality content that resonates with their audiences.
OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing his organization’s commitment to supporting AJP’s mission of strengthening democracy through the revitalization of the local news sector. Altman believes that AI should be accessible to all and utilized as a tool to enhance work.
This partnership follows OpenAI’s recent deal with the Associated Press (AP) to license some of the news organization’s content for algorithmic training. The AP is the first news outlet to collaborate with OpenAI, although the financial details of their agreement have not been disclosed.
Sarabeth Berman, CEO of AJP, shared her perspective on the partnership, highlighting the importance of exploring how generative AI can improve journalistic workflows. She emphasized that the goal is to enable newsrooms to dedicate more time to impactful reporting while utilizing AI to support their efforts.
In addition to funding, OpenAI will provide AJP and its grantees with up to $5 million in API credits, allowing them to experiment with the technology themselves.
This collaboration signifies a significant step towards integrating AI into the field of journalism. By leveraging AI tools, local news organizations hope to enhance their ability to deliver timely and accurate information to their communities while freeing up resources for in-depth reporting.
As the impact of AI continues to expand across various industries, partnerships like this one between OpenAI and AJP reflect the growing recognition of AI’s potential to supplement and improve human endeavors rather than replace them.
