2024-09-13 18:21:36
“OpenAI told us that it did not see the need at this stage to enter into new licensing agreements with publishers in France,” explains Pierre Petillault, the general director of the Alliance for the General Information Press (Apig). The union of French national dailies and regional newspapers had, with the Syndicate of Magazine Press Publishers (SEPM), sent a letter at the beginning of June formally requesting the opening of negotiations with the creator of ChatGPT. But the American company in return informed them of its refusal to enter into discussions, in a letter revealed by The Letter this Friday, September 13.
Publishers were asking OpenAI whether their content had been used to train its text and image generation models. And they were demanding a negotiation for compensation in exchange for allowing them to access their articles, photos, etc. “OpenAI does not rule out opening discussions one day, but in the short term, it only commits to respecting our opt-out, that is, our right to refuse to have our content trained by their AIs. [intelligences artificielles] », explains Mr. Petillault. The American company has also repeated in recent months that its contribution to the press comes above all from AI tools to facilitate the work of editors or journalists.
“OpenAI’s position is inconsistent: its leaders say they do not need licenses but they have already signed some, notably with Le Monde in France, analyzes the leader of Apig. They need content. It’s a matter of time. Especially since the market for AI manufacturers remains competitive: the player who has access to the best content will be able to have a comparative advantage.”
Lone Rider
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The World signed an agreement with OpenAI in March. The latter provides for the use of its content for AI training and for display on a future version of ChatGPT. Called SearchGPT, it will rely on the publisher’s articles for its answers to news-related questions, by attaching a link to them.
The only French media to have signed a contract with the American company, The World was criticized by some publishers for going it alone. “Our agreement is not at all exclusive. OpenAI has full latitude to sign others. And Le Monde too, with other AI manufacturers,” responds Louis Dreyfus, chairman of the board of directors of Monde.
The deal with OpenAI also sets a precedent that recognizes the economic value of news content for AI and the American group has made similar agreements with major publishers directly in many countries, the executive argues. The Anglo-American group News Corp (The Wall Street Journal, The Times, The Daily Telegraph…), the German present in the United States Axel Springer (Bild, Die Welt, Politico, Business Insider…), the British Financial Times or the American Condé Nast (Vogue, Vanity Fair…) have thus signed.
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French Media Rebuffed: OpenAI Refuses Licensing Agreements with Publishers
In a move that has sent ripples through the French media landscape, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has declined to enter into licensing agreements with publishers in France. The union of French national dailies and regional newspapers, Alliance for the General Information Press (Apig), along with the Syndicate of Magazine Press Publishers (SEPM), had sent a formal letter to OpenAI in June requesting negotiations. However, the American company responded by shutting the door on discussions.
Publishers Seek Compensation for AI Training
At the core of the dispute lies the concern that OpenAI’s text and image generation models have been trained using French media content without permission or compensation. Publishers are seeking a negotiation with OpenAI to discuss fair compensation for the use of their articles, photos, and other content. However, OpenAI has expressed its reluctance to engage in such discussions, stating that it only commits to respecting publishers’ opt-out rights, which allow them to refuse AI training on their content.
Inconsistencies in OpenAI’s Position
Pierre Petillault, general director of Apig, has questioned the consistency of OpenAI’s stance. “OpenAI’s position is inconsistent: its leaders say they do not need licenses but they have already signed some, notably with Le Monde in France,” he pointed out. Petillault believes that OpenAI’s refusal to negotiate is only a temporary stance, as the company ultimately needs high-quality content to remain competitive in the AI market.
Le Monde’s Lone Rider Status
In March, Le Monde signed an agreement with OpenAI, allowing the American company to use its content for AI training and displaying it on a future version of ChatGPT. This deal has sparked controversy, with some publishers criticizing Le Monde for going it alone. However, Louis Dreyfus, chairman of the board of directors of Le Monde, has emphasized that the agreement is not exclusive and that OpenAI has the freedom to sign similar deals with other French media outlets.
Implications for the Future of AI and Media
The standoff between OpenAI and French publishers raises important questions about the
– Why did OpenAI refuse to enter into licensing agreements with French publishers?
OpenAI Refuses Licensing Agreements with French Publishers
In a recent development, OpenAI, the American artificial intelligence research organization, has refused to enter into licensing agreements with French publishers. This decision has sparked controversy in the French media industry, with publishers demanding compensation for the use of their content in OpenAI’s text and image generation models.
According to Pierre Petillault, the general director of the Alliance for the General Information Press (Apig), OpenAI informed them that they did not see the need to enter into new licensing agreements with publishers in France. This decision has been met with disappointment and frustration from the French media industry, which has been seeking negotiations with OpenAI since June.
The controversy centers around the use of French publishers’ content in OpenAI’s AI models, including ChatGPT, a chatbot that generates conversations [[3]]. The publishers are demanding compensation for the use of their articles, photos, and other content in these models. However, OpenAI has refused to engage in discussions, citing that they do not need licenses and only commit to respecting the publishers’ right to refuse to have their content trained by their AIs [[1]].
The situation has raised concerns about the role of AI in the media industry and the need for fair compensation for content creators. As explained by Mr. Petillault, “OpenAI’s position is inconsistent: its leaders say they do not need licenses but they have already signed some, notably with Le Monde in France, They need content. It’s a matter of time. Especially since the market for AI manufacturers remains competitive: the player who has access to the best content will be able to have a comparative advantage.”
Interestingly, some French publishers have already signed agreements with OpenAI, such as Le Monde, which signed an agreement in March. The agreement allows OpenAI to use Le Monde’s content for AI training and display on a future version of ChatGPT, called SearchGPT [[3]].
Meanwhile, OpenAI has been making significant breakthroughs in AI research, including the recent unveiling of o1, a model that can fact-check itself by spending more time considering all parts of a question [[2]]. The organization has also announced a new AI model, code-named Strawberry, which solves complex problems with increased accuracy and efficiency [[3]].
As the debate around AI and content creation continues, it remains to be seen how OpenAI’s decision will impact the French media industry and the broader landscape of AI research and development.
References:
[1] OpenAI – Wikipedia
