OpenAI has gained access to Financial Times articles for AI training purposes

The Financial Times, a publication known for its high-quality financial reporting and analysis, has entered into a partnership with OpenAI to allow the AI chatbot ChatGPT to use its articles for training purposes. This move will enable ChatGPT to provide users with relevant answers to questions by summarizing and quoting directly from FT articles, with links back to the full content.

FT Group CEO John Ridding emphasized the importance of transparency, attribution, and compensation in this partnership, stating that it is essential for publishers to be fairly compensated for the use of their material by AI platforms. While the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, it is clear that both parties see the value in working together.

This partnership follows a similar agreement between OpenAI and Axel Springer, the publisher behind popular outlets like Politico and Business Insider. ChatGPT will now be able to summarize and link to articles from Axel Springer’s brands in real-time, potentially driving more traffic to the publisher’s sites.

However, not all publishers are as willing to collaborate with AI platforms. Eight newspapers owned by Alden Global Capital have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement. They claim that AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Copilot are reproducing copyrighted content without permission, potentially harming their businesses.

This legal action is part of a larger trend, with other news organizations like The New York Times and The Intercept also suing OpenAI and Microsoft for similar reasons. As AI technology continues to advance, the debate over copyright and fair use in the digital age is likely to intensify.