OpenAI and Microsoft Join Forces to Invest $10 Million to Help Journalism Embrace the AI Era!

In a time when the relationship between artificial intelligence and traditional media is highly contentious, OpenAI and Microsoft have made a significant move. The two tech giants have announced a total investment of $10 million to support several renowned news organizations in launching AI technology innovation projects.

The initial beneficiaries of this funding initiative include Chicago Public Media, the Minnesota Star Tribune, Newsday in New York's Long Island, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Seattle Times. Each media organization will receive support for a two-year AI researcher position, focusing on the practical application of AI technology and exploring its commercial sustainability. The project is expected to expand further, with plans to select three additional media organizations in the second round.

In terms of funding structure, OpenAI and Microsoft each provide $2.5 million in cash support, along with an additional $2.5 million in software and corporate credits. The entire project will be coordinated under the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.

This collaboration is quite dramatic. Previously, the relationship between the news industry and AI was tense. Several media organizations, including the Center for Investigative Reporting, The New York Times, The Intercept, Original Story, and Alternative Network, have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft. The main points of contention revolve around allegations that ChatGPT plagiarized article content and that AI companies scraped web content for model training without authorization. However, some media have opted for a cooperative approach, such as Condé Nast, which recently reached a content licensing agreement with OpenAI.

It is also noteworthy that OpenAI has announced another significant personnel appointment. Aaron Chatterji, a professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business who held key positions in the Obama and Biden administrations, will serve as the company's first Chief Economist, highlighting OpenAI's strategic focus on economic policy.