San Francisco-based AI research company, OpenAI, has responded to a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against them by The New York Times. OpenAI firmly denies the allegations, emphasizing their commitment to following the law and engaging in constructive dialogue with the media giant (OpenAI, 2023).
The lawsuit revolves around claims that OpenAI’s ChatGPT tool reproduced content from The New York Times without permission. However, OpenAI argues that the examples provided are misleading and likely the result of deliberate instruction or selective sampling during the model’s development (OpenAI, 2023).
OpenAI maintains that access to a wide range of human knowledge is crucial for AI to advance and tackle new challenges. They argue that utilizing internet data, including copyrighted material, for training AI models falls under fair use. OpenAI acknowledges the significance of copyright but believes that incorporating such works is necessary to capture the entirety of human thought and experience (OpenAI, 2023).
To address potential copyright issues, OpenAI has taken steps to mitigate the problem. They recently disabled the Browse feature in ChatGPT, which inadvertently led to content replication. Additionally, since August 2023, website owners have had the option to block OpenAI’s web crawlers, preventing their data from being used in the company’s model training (OpenAI, 2023).
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, OpenAI expresses a desire for collaboration with The New York Times. They draw attention to their successful partnerships with Axel Springer and The Associated Press, aiming to establish a similar alliance with the esteemed publication. OpenAI respects The New York Times’ rich heritage and hopes for a mutually beneficial partnership (OpenAI, 2023).
In conclusion, OpenAI strongly contests the copyright infringement allegations brought by The New York Times. They assert their commitment to lawful practices, highlight measures taken to address potential issues, and express a willingness to collaborate with the renowned publication. The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for the future of AI development and copyright considerations (OpenAI, 2023).