OpenAI alleges the New York Times tricked ChatGPT into plagiarism

In what is due to be a definitive case for the future of generative AI, the New York Times is suing OpenAI for training ChatGPT using its articles without permission. The defendant alleges that the media outlet tricked its AI model specifically to produce answers verbatim.

The landscape of generative AI may not look so lawless in 2024, if the New York Times can win its landmark case against OpenAI’s parent company, Microsoft. Big if.

In what is due to be a pivotal juncture for generative AI platforms and their innate processes, the media outlet is suing ChatGPT’s creator for training its language models using NYT content without permission.

While the very nature of a deep learning model is to compartmentalise as much data as possible to generate valuable responses, the NYT alleges that ChatGPT has recited its content verbatim on several occasions.

A spokesperson said this ‘undermines and damages’ the company’s reputation while simultaneously depriving it of ‘subscription, licensing, advertising, and affiliate revenue.’ The Times updated its terms of service in August 2023 to…