The New York Times has taken a firm stance against generative AI companies, particularly targeting Perplexity, a startup backed by Jeff Bezos. The newspaper has issued a cease and desist letter demanding that Perplexity stop using its content for AI summaries and other outputs, citing copyright violations and unjust enrichment.
Key Takeaways
The New York Times has sent a cease and desist letter to Perplexity.
The letter claims that Perplexity has used the newspaper's content without a license.
This is not the first legal action the Times has taken against AI companies; it is also suing OpenAI.
Perplexity has been accused of unethical web scraping by other publishers.
The CEO of Perplexity expressed a desire to collaborate with the Times rather than be adversarial.
Background of the Dispute
The New York Times has been increasingly vigilant about how its content is used in the digital landscape, especially with the rise of generative AI technologies. The cease and desist letter to Perplexity highlights the newspaper's concerns over copyright infringement and the ethical implications of AI-generated content.
The letter argues that Perplexity has been “unjustly enriched” by utilizing the Times' “expressive, carefully written and researched, and edited journalism” without proper licensing. This action underscores the growing tension between traditional media outlets and emerging AI companies that leverage their content for profit.
Previous Legal Actions
This recent action against Perplexity is part of a broader strategy by The New York Times to protect its intellectual property. The newspaper is also engaged in a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the company used its content without consent to train its AI model, ChatGPT. This legal battle reflects a significant concern among publishers regarding the unauthorized use of their material in AI training datasets.
Industry Reactions
The response from the industry has been mixed. While some publishers have echoed the Times' concerns, others have taken a more lenient approach, exploring partnerships with AI companies. Perplexity, for its part, has recently launched an ad-revenue share scheme aimed at compensating publishers for the use of their content.
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, stated that the startup is interested in collaborating with The New York Times, emphasizing, “We have no interest in being anyone’s antagonist here.” This statement suggests a willingness to find common ground, even as tensions remain high.
The Future of AI and Journalism
As generative AI continues to evolve, the relationship between traditional media and AI companies will likely remain contentious. The New York Times' actions may set a precedent for other publishers facing similar challenges.
The ongoing legal battles and negotiations will shape the future landscape of content creation and distribution, raising important questions about copyright, ethics, and the role of AI in journalism.
In conclusion, The New York Times' recent actions against Perplexity highlight the urgent need for clear guidelines and agreements between media companies and AI developers. As both sides navigate this complex terrain, the outcome will have lasting implications for the industry as a whole.
Sources
The New York Times has had it with generative AI companies using its content | TechCrunch, TechCrunch.