OpenAI Inks Landmark Deal with Axel Springer to Use its News Content

Agreement Sparks Backlash Among Journalists, Marks Significant Shift in AI's Interaction with Journalism

OpenAI has signed a landmark deal with Axel Springer, Germany’s biggest news publisher, to use its articles to train ChatGPT and provide answers to users’ questions in the form of short summaries with links to the full articles.
The deal includes a one-off payment for past content and a licensing fee worth tens of millions of euros per year, marking a significant licensing agreement as publishers grapple with protecting their intellectual property from AI.
The agreement sparked backlash from some journalists who said they had not been informed of the deal and raised concerns about what it means for their work and whether they will benefit from any of the revenue.
OpenAI has previously struck a deal with The Associated Press and is in negotiations with other publishers, including Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, over similar agreements.
Many news outlets view licensing agreements as the most sustainable solution to protect their intellectual property and consent for use of their content, as they face potential harm from AI technology.