LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a groundbreaking move, The Center for Investigative Reporting has taken legal action against ChatGPT creator OpenAI and its ally, Microsoft. This lawsuit signals a new chapter in the media industry’s battle against the unauthorized use of its content on artificial intelligence platforms. The nonprofit, responsible for producing Mother Jones and Reveal, alleges that OpenAI utilized its content without permission or compensation, infringing on the copyrights of their journalism. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in New York, asserts that OpenAI’s operations are founded on the misuse of copyrighted works and highlights how AI-generated article summaries pose a threat to publishers.
Monika Bauerlein, CEO of the nonprofit, expressed concern over the impact of AI tools on audience engagement with their work. She emphasized the importance of users recognizing and supporting the value of journalism produced by organizations like Mother Jones and Reveal. Bauerlein warned that shifting user engagement to AI tools could undermine the foundation of independent newsrooms and jeopardize the future of news organizations at large.
OpenAI and Microsoft are already entangled in various copyright lawsuits in Manhattan’s federal court, including disputes with prominent media outlets and bestselling authors. While some news organizations have opted to collaborate with OpenAI to receive compensation for sharing content, others like Time have reached agreements to provide access to their extensive archives for AI training purposes. OpenAI maintained that they are actively collaborating with the news industry to display content in their products in a manner that directs traffic back to the original sources. Microsoft declined to comment on the recent lawsuit.
Critics argue that AI developers like OpenAI should compensate news media for using their content to train AI systems, similar to how they pay for other resources necessary for their operations. Despite facing legal challenges, OpenAI and Microsoft have stood by the argument that leveraging publicly available online data to train AI systems falls under the fair use doctrine of American copyright law. The lawsuit from CIR highlights the significant financial investment required for investigative journalism and the potential repercussions of losing control over copyrighted content on media organizations.
The partnership between OpenAI and a slew of news organizations, like The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, showcases the evolving dynamics between AI technology and media outlets. The lawsuit from CIR underscores the critical role investigative journalism plays in maintaining a robust democracy and calls attention to the implications of diminishing resources for reporting important stories in today’s media landscape. Mother Jones and CIR, both established in the 1970s and now merged, share a commitment to producing impactful investigative journalism.
With the legal battle ongoing, the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the relationship between AI technology and the media industry. The lawsuit serves as a testament to the evolving challenges and ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in news production and distribution. As stakeholders navigate these complexities, the future of journalism and the boundaries of AI utilization remain subject to ongoing debate and legal scrutiny.