Microsoft seeks dismissal of copyright lawsuit by New York Times over AI training
Microsoft has filed for the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by the New York Times, which accuses the tech giant and OpenAI of using copyrighted content for AI training, amidst broader debates on the legal and societal challenges facing AI technology and copyright law.
Microsoft is seeking the dismissal of a copyright lawsuit filed by the New York Times, which accuses the tech giant and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, of using the newspaper’s copyrighted content to train generative artificial intelligence technologies. Microsoft has countered the claims, suggesting that the lawsuit represents a fear of technological advancement similar to historical apprehensions about the VCR. The New York Times contends that these actions threaten its journalistic efforts by leveraging its work without proper compensation.
The lawsuit highlights the broader debate surrounding the use and training of AI with copyrighted material, an issue underscored by recent concerns over AI-generated content’s impact. OpenAI has rebuffed allegations of misusing the Times’ content, asserting that their AI, including ChatGPT, does not undermine the value of a newspaper subscription but rather is an advancement of technology in alignment with legal standards.
Further complicating the discourse on AI’s societal role, Microsoft engineer Shane Jones has labeled himself a whistleblower, expressing concerns over offensive imagery produced by Microsoft’s AI image-generator tool, Copilot Designer. Jones has reported issues of the tool generating inappropriate content, raising alarm with US regulators and Microsoft’s board. Although the Federal Trade Commission has acknowledged receiving Jones’s complaints, it has not commented on the matter. Microsoft has responded to the engineer’s concerns, emphasizing its dedication to evaluating and refining its policies in light of employee feedback.
The legal and ethical challenges facing Microsoft and OpenAI, as seen in the lawsuit with the New York Times and internal concerns raised by Microsoft employees, reflect the growing tensions at the intersection of AI development, copyright law, and societal impact. The outcomes of these disputes could significantly influence the future framework for AI technology’s evolution and its integration with copyrighted materials.