USACenter for Investigative Journalism (CIR) allegations OpenAI and Microsoft usecopyrightmaterial to train its AI models. A complaint filed in federal court in New York alleges that OpenAI utilized CIR's content without permission or payment.
Monika Bauerlein, CEO of CIR, emphasized the existential threat posed by AI tools that replace direct engagement with Mother Jones and Reveal's original content. According to Bauerlein, this jeopardizes the financial foundation of independent news organizations.
However, a number of companies have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft, including the New York Times, the Daily News New York, and many best-selling authors. By suing these two companies, these legal battles have brought a controversial issue into the public eye, namely the use of copyrighted material for training in the age of artificial intelligence without proper permission.
OpenAI and other AI developers argue that their use of publicly accessible content falls under the "fair use" doctrine of U.S. copyright law. Nonetheless, a number of news organizations, including the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine, have opted to sign licensing agreements with OpenAI to receive compensation for their content. Most recently, Time Magazine announced a multi-year agreement granting OpenAI access to its archives.