OpenAI, the brains behind the popular artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, is reaching out to major news outlets like CNN, Fox Corporation, and Time, seeking licensing deals for their content, Bloomberg reported. This move is seen as an effort by the US-based company to enhance the capabilities of its AI products and address the growing concerns of copyright infringement.
The Sam Altman-led company aims to use the licensed content from these media giants to train its AI systems, including ChatGPT, and integrate their text, video, and image content into its products. While CNN and Fox have yet to comment on these discussions, Time’s CEO Jessica Sibley reportedly expressed optimism about reaching a fair agreement with OpenAI.
OpenAI’s initiative comes amidst legal challenges, including a lawsuit from The New York Times alleging unauthorized use of its articles. In response, the AI firm has emphasized its commitment to ethical collaborations with news organizations. The AI firm is working with the News/Media Alliance and engaging with other media companies like Gannett, News Corp, and IAC to discuss potential partnerships and address concerns.
Compensation for the licensed content remains a pivotal aspect of these discussions. OpenAI reportedly offers $1 million to $5 million annually for article licensing, a range deemed insufficient by some top publishers. Others, like Axel Springer, have reportedly considered larger figures. These negotiations are critical for OpenAI, especially as the legal and ethical frameworks around the use of copyrighted content in AI development continue to evolve.
Beyond compensation, negotiations also focus on how OpenAI plans to feature publisher content and drive traffic to their sites. The company highlights the necessity of copyrighted materials for training leading AI models, arguing that limiting data to public domain content would not meet the needs of today’s citizens.
Elsewhere, after a delay, OpenAI finally introduced GPT Store, a marketplace where users can discover and share personalized AI applications, earlier this week. The move is seen as a significant step in democratizing AI and extending ChatGPT’s potential beyond its pre-built functionalities.
