The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement related to the use of its articles in the development of their artificial intelligence technologies. In a complaint filed in federal court, the newspaper claims that this practice compromises its reputation and advertising revenue.
The New York Times’ lawsuit highlights issues surrounding the generative AI development model, particularly ChatGPT, which is based on millions of the newspaper’s copyrighted articles. The New York Times says it tried to resolve the dispute amicably, offering a trade deal and technological protection measures, but negotiations failed. The financial damage suffered by the newspaper is estimated at several billion dollars.
In addition to protecting its copyrights, The New York Times raises concerns about competition in the news business. Chatbots powered by articles from the newspaper may provide responses based on its information, which could dissuade users from visiting its site directly, leading to a loss of advertising revenue and subscriptions.
The New York Times complaint also highlights the risks of using chatbots to generate answers to topical questions. Errors or misleading responses generated by these systems can damage the reputation of the journal if they are wrongly attributed to its articles.
By filing this lawsuit, The New York Times seeks to protect press freedom and establish legal precedent. If the newspaper wins its case, it could pave the way for other legal actions of this type.
However, the case also raises important questions about the development of generative AI. Researchers must find solutions to improve the quality of responses and avoid errors. It is crucial to preserve the balance between technological progress and respect for copyright as well as to ensure users’ trust in the information generated by AI.
In a context where the media are facing considerable challenges and where the written press is seeing its subscribers decline, it is essential to find mechanisms to protect the copyright of the media and preserve their crucial role in democracy.