OpenAI Partners with Condé Nast: Publications to be Featured in ChatGPT & SearchGPT

TLDR:

• OpenAI announces partnership with Condé Nast for content from major publications
• Deal allows OpenAI to display content in ChatGPT and SearchGPT
• Other media companies have recently signed similar deals with AI firms
• Some publishers are suing AI companies over copyright infringement
• Financial terms of the Condé Nast deal were not disclosed

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, has announced a multi-year partnership with media giant Condé Nast.

This deal will allow OpenAI to display content from Condé Nast’s top publications in its AI products, including ChatGPT and the new SearchGPT prototype.

The agreement covers content from well-known magazines such as Vogue, The New Yorker, Wired, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Bon Appétit. OpenAI plans to use this content to enhance its AI models and provide users with access to reliable information from respected sources.

We’re partnering with Condé Nast to deepen the integration of quality journalism into ChatGPT and our SearchGPT prototype. https://t.co/tiXqSOTNAl

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) August 20, 2024

Roger Lynch, CEO of Condé Nast, explained the rationale behind the partnership in a company-wide email.

He pointed out the challenges faced by the publishing industry due to technological changes, particularly in traditional search, which have made it harder for publishers to generate revenue.

Lynch stated, “Our partnership with OpenAI begins to make up for some of that revenue, allowing us to continue to protect and invest in our journalism and creative endeavors.”

This deal is part of a growing trend of collaborations between AI companies and media outlets. In recent months, OpenAI has signed similar agreements with other publishers, including Time magazine, Axel Springer, and The Atlantic.

These partnerships typically involve AI companies gaining access to current and archived content from publishers to train their models and display information in response to user queries.

Brad Lightcap, Chief Operating Officer at OpenAI, emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining accuracy and integrity in news delivery.

He stated, “We’re committed to working with Condé Nast and other news publishers to ensure that as AI plays a larger role in news discovery and delivery, it maintains accuracy, integrity and respect for quality reporting.”

However, not all media companies are embracing AI partnerships. Some, including The New York Times and eight other daily newspapers, have filed lawsuits against OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement. These legal actions claim that OpenAI used their content without permission to train its AI models.

The financial terms of the Condé Nast deal were not disclosed, which is typical for such agreements in the industry. OpenAI has stated that its SearchGPT prototype will offer direct links to news stories, and the company plans to integrate these features into ChatGPT in the future.

This partnership comes at a time when the media industry is grappling with the impact of AI on content creation and distribution.

While some publishers see these deals as a way to adapt to changing technologies and create new revenue streams, others are concerned about protecting their intellectual property and the potential long-term effects on journalism.