Microsoft and OpenAI Fund AI Initiative for News Organizations Amidst Copyright Dispute
New York, NY – Despite ongoing legal battles over the use of newscontent for AI training, Microsoft and OpenAI have announced a new initiative to help news organizations leverage generative AI in their operations. The program, funded by a $10 million grant from both companies, will be administered by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and will focus on supporting US metro news organizations.
The move comesamidst a growing controversy surrounding the use of copyrighted content for AI training. In December 2023, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, alleging that the companies had trained their services on the publication’sarticles and content without permission. The lawsuit remains ongoing.
However, this new initiative signals a shift in approach from Microsoft and OpenAI, demonstrating a willingness to collaborate with news organizations on AI development. The program will provide grants and software credits toparticipating news organizations, enabling them to hire dedicated AI researchers and develop custom AI tools.
We believe that AI has the potential to transform journalism, and we are committed to working with news organizations to ensure that this technology is used responsibly and ethically, said a Microsoft spokesperson in a press release. This program will providenews organizations with the resources they need to explore the potential of AI and to develop innovative solutions that will benefit their readers and communities.
The initial cohort of participating news organizations includes Chicago Public Media, Newsday (Long Island, NY), the Minnesota Star Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Seattle Times. Each organization will receivefunding to hire an AI researcher for a two-year period. These researchers will be tasked with developing and implementing AI-powered solutions tailored to their specific needs.
The grant also includes access to OpenAI’s services and Microsoft Azure, allowing the news organizations to build and deploy AI tools that can assist in local newsreporting. The program emphasizes collaboration, with participating organizations sharing knowledge and best practices with each other and potentially expanding the initiative to other news organizations in the future.
Each organization has outlined specific AI projects they plan to undertake. The Minnesota Star Tribune aims to develop AI-powered summarization, analysis, and content discovery features for itsreaders and reporting. The Seattle Times will utilize AI to support its sales team, while The Philadelphia Inquirer plans to create a conversational search interface for its news archives.
This initiative represents a significant step towards a more collaborative relationship between technology companies and news organizations in the realm of AI. While the legal landscape surrounding AI training data remains complex,this program offers a potential path forward for responsible and ethical AI development in the news industry.
The program’s focus on local news organizations is particularly noteworthy. These organizations often face financial challenges and resource constraints, making them particularly vulnerable to the disruption caused by AI. By providing funding and support, this initiative aims to empowerlocal news organizations to embrace AI and leverage its potential to enhance their reporting and engagement with their communities.
However, the program’s success will depend on addressing concerns about data privacy, copyright, and the potential for AI to exacerbate existing biases in news reporting. The participating organizations will need to carefully consider these issues and developethical guidelines for the development and deployment of AI tools.
The program’s launch comes at a critical time for the news industry, as it navigates the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on journalism. This initiative offers a valuable opportunity for news organizations to explore the potential of AI while ensuring its responsible and ethical use.The program’s success will be closely watched by the industry, as it could serve as a model for future collaborations between technology companies and news organizations.
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