The parent company of renowned publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, News Corp, has revealed a significant agreement with OpenAI. This partnership allows OpenAI’s AI models to utilise articles from News Corp’s vast array of news outlets, shaping the landscape of journalism and content distribution.
On May 22, 2024, News Corp, the parent company of publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, announced a multiyear deal with OpenAI. This agreement allows OpenAI’s AI models to access and use current and archived articles from News Corp’s major news outlets, including brands in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, as well as MarketWatch and Barron’s.
Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corp, described the deal as setting new standards for veracity, virtue, and value in the digital age. However, financial terms were not disclosed, though sources close to the Wall Street Journal suggested the agreement might be valued at approximately $250 million over five years.
The partnership is part of a broader trend of media companies negotiating with AI firms. OpenAI has previously secured similar agreements with Axel Springer, Dotdash Meredith, and the Financial Times. This comes amid growing concerns within the journalism industry regarding the use of AI-driven chatbots like ChatGPT, which leverage copyrighted material to generate responses, potentially drawing readers away from traditional news sources.
The deal has sparked concern among employees represented by the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (IAPE), who noted the lack of an agreement on AI usage protections in current contract negotiations. Meanwhile, other publishers such as The New York Times have opted to sue OpenAI and Microsoft on grounds of copyright infringement.
This development highlights the evolving interplay between AI technology and the news industry, with significant implications for the future of journalism and content distribution.
