OpenAI, along with Microsoft, is being sued by the New York Times, which alleges the artificial intelligence company has cost it 'billions of dollars' in damages by illegally copying and using its works. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters/ CBC News)
The New York Times has taken a stand against what it perceives as a threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to the news industry. On Wednesday, the renowned publication filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that these tech entities are jeopardizing its livelihood by utilizing its stories to train chatbots.
The lawsuit, lodged in federal court in Manhattan, contends that the companies are essentially appropriating the journalistic work of The Times, spitting out its material verbatim to users seeking answers from generative AI like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
AI, with its rapid development, has the potential to disrupt various industries, including media. The migration of readers to online platforms has already impacted media organizations, and AI could compound these challenges. The lawsuit emphasizes that these AI-driven chatbots compete with the content they are trained on, raising concerns about potential financial losses for media outlets.
The legal action asserts that OpenAI's GPT-4 falsely attributed product recommendations to Wirecutter, a product reviews site owned by The Times, potentially damaging its reputation. The complaint highlights the evolving landscape of AI technology, its rapid investments, and the partnership dynamics between Microsoft and OpenAI.
This lawsuit is part of a growing trend, with an increasing number of copyright infringement lawsuits filed against OpenAI. Notably, writers, including comedian Sarah Silverman, have sued the company, alleging that their works were used without permission to train AI models. The legal action also comes amid wider concerns about the exploitative practices of AI developers, as evidenced by a letter signed by over 4,000 writers accusing major tech companies of mimicking their language, style, and ideas.
The Times seeks accountability from OpenAI and Microsoft for the alleged unlawful use of its content, seeking unspecified damages. It also calls for a court order to compel the tech companies to destroy AI models or data sets that utilize its work. The lawsuit underscores the impact on web traffic, a crucial component of The Times' advertising revenue and subscriptions, as AI-generated content diverts traffic away from the original source.
While The New York Times acknowledges the uphill battle in fully addressing the issue due to the prevalence of similar language models, it emphasizes the need to hold tech companies accountable for the billions of dollars in damages resulting from the unauthorized use of its valuable works. The legal action reflects broader concerns about the ethical and legal implications of AI technology and its potential to reshape traditional industries.
