The Financial Times (FT) has partnered with OpenAI to train AI models on FT’s archived content. The deal allows OpenAI to develop AI technology capable of generating human-like text, images, and code. It also enables ChatGPT to provide short summaries from FT articles, directing users back to FT.com.
“This is an important agreement in a number of respects,” said FT Group CEO John Ridding. “It recognises the value of our award-winning journalism and will give us early insights into how content is surfaced through AI. We have long been a leader in news media innovation, pioneering the subscription model and engagement technologies, and this partnership will help keep us at the forefront of developments in how people access and use information.”
This partnership is OpenAI’s fifth such agreement in the past year, following deals with Associated Press, Axel Springer, Le Monde, and Prisa Media. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, expressed enthusiasm about the evolving relationship with the Financial Times, stating: “Our partnership and ongoing dialogue with the FT is about finding creative and productive ways for AI to empower news organisations and journalists, and enrich the ChatGPT experience with real-time, world-class journalism for millions of people around the world.”
The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging they used its articles without permission to build ChatGPT. Meanwhile, News Corp and Thomson Reuters have been in talks with AI companies about licensing contracts. Google, however, has not yet reached any deals with news publishers.