A significant event has unfolded as The New York Times has initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged copyright infringement concerning the utilization of its material to train ChatGPT’s AI models. This marks the first instance of a major American newspaper engaging in legal action against OpenAI, partnered significantly with Microsoft.
This case could establish a pivotal precedent for the AI industry’s approach to the development of Generative AI in the years ahead. For further insights into the lawsuit and the claims made by The New York Times, continue reading.
GPT-4 Recalls NYT Content Word-for-Word
On December 27, 2023, The New York Times lodged a lawsuit in the New York Federal District Court, alleging that OpenAI utilized millions of Times articles to train its AI models without authorization. The Times asserted that this usage occurred without payment of any licensing fees for the published material. Within the lawsuit, The New York Times presented 100 instances where GPT-4 seemingly memorized content directly from the Times’ articles, lacking proper attribution to the source.
An intriguing aspect revealed in the lawsuit was The New York Times’ attempt to negotiate a deal with OpenAI in April and subsequent months, which failed to materialize. Consequently, The Times proceeded with legal action, citing the unauthorized utilization of copyrighted work in training AI chatbots.
The lawsuit doesn’t specify a precise monetary figure for damages but asserts that OpenAI and Microsoft should compensate “billions” for the unauthorized utilization of proprietary work. In response to The Verge, an OpenAI spokesperson conveyed,
“Our ongoing discussions with the New York Times have been positive and forward-looking, so this filing has caught us by surprise. We’re optimistic about finding a mutually beneficial path to collaborate, much like we’re doing with numerous other publishers.”
With the lawsuit underway, it appears that the advancement of Generative AI might encounter another obstacle, alongside heightened regulatory challenges. This development could significantly impact not only OpenAI and Microsoft but also the entire AI industry and journalism landscape. We’ll stay abreast of the legal proceedings, so stay connected for updates.
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