NEW YORK: News Corp. on Wednesday announced a deal to let ChatGPT-maker OpenAI use content from its publications in artificial intelligence products.
OpenAI will get access to current and archived content from News Corp. properties including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch, and The New York Post, according to a joint release.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Wall Street Journal cited sources close to the company as saying it was valued at more than $250 million over five years and included credits for News Corp. using OpenAI technology.
Authors, artists, and news groups have been accusing OpenAI and its rivals in the generative artificial intelligence market of using copyrighted content for training models without asking permission or paying.
Generative AI models are trained on mountains of data in the effort to get software to think the way people do.
“This landmark accord is not an end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship in which we are jointly committed to creating and delivering insight and integrity instantaneously,” News Corp. chief executive Robert Thomson said.
OpenAI gets permission to display News Corp. content in response to queries by users of its technology, according to terms of the deal.
“Our partnership with News Corp. is a proud moment for journalism and technology,” Open AI CEO Sam Altman said in the release.
“Together, we are setting the foundation for a future where AI deeply respects, enhances, and upholds the standards of world-class journalism.”
ChatGPT’s creator is also in the process of signing content licensing agreements with media outlets — including the Associated Press, Germany’s Axel Springer Group (publisher of tabloid Bild), French daily Le Monde and Spanish conglomerate Prisa Media — to enrich its models.
The announcement of the agreement with News Corp. comes on the heels of a new controversy, after actress Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of copying her voice for a new voice assistant without her permission.
Altman has apologized and announced the suspension of the voice, called “Sky.”
News Corp. makes deal to let OpenAI use its content
https://arab.news/98cp5
News Corp. makes deal to let OpenAI use its content
- ChatGPT’s creator is also in the process of signing content licensing agreements with media outlets
Jamal Banoon’s book to guide new generation of Saudi economic journalists
- Author aims to provide journalists with practical tools and insights to master and advance their skills
RIYADH: Jamal Banoon’s new book, “The Truth Behind the Numbers,” aims to guide economic journalists in the Kingdom in times of transformation.
The book was accredited this week by the Higher Economic Council of the International Union for Press and Media as an official training curriculum.
The author aims to provide journalists with practical tools and insights to master and advance their skills in economic reporting. It delves into advice about data analysis, understanding global economic shifts, and how to deliver that news effectively. Banoon’s book reflects his goal to transform business journalists from mere reporters into a workforce that can analyze complexity, context and statistics in economics.
The book addresses under-discussed themes in economic journalism, such as the importance of connecting economic issues to people’s lives and paying close attention to the threat of misinformation.
Banoon is a prominent veteran business correspondent, with more than 40 years of experience, specializing in economic and business reporting in the Kingdom.
Through his experience, he has seen economic journalism bloom in the Kingdom for years: “After more than 40 years in economic journalism, I felt there was a pressing need to document this experience and present it systematically to the new generation,” Banoon told Arab News.
His work, in alignment with his book, has emphasized the need for economic journalists to play crucial roles in translating numbers, indicators and financial trends to the public. Given his mission to educate and aid aspiring journalists to perfect these skills, his work becomes increasingly important as the Kingdom undergoes fast change and evolution as it pursues Vision 2030.
“I was inspired by the constant challenge journalists face in understanding and simplifying numbers for the public ... The biggest gap lies in simplifying without compromising accuracy. Many economic reports are written in highly technical language that the general public struggles to understand, or they are oversimplified to the point of distortion,” he said.
“This book seeks to bridge that gap by offering tools and methods that enable journalists to translate economic complexity into accessible, meaningful content — without losing depth or credibility.”
On the importance of publishing the book in the current climate, Banoon said: “Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable progress in business reporting, especially amid the major economic transformations driven by Vision 2030. There is growing interest among media institutions in strengthening economic coverage, but we still need more specialization, training and development of analytical content.”
Banoon’s book, in addition to being a fundamental tool, reflects what he calls “the fast-paced dynamics of the Saudi economy.” As the Kingdom expands its horizons to welcome being a global business hub, the media landscape is catching up to echo that change.
Sidebar advice:
“I consider the chapter ‘Verifying Economic Sources’ to be one of the most important for young journalists.”
“Credibility begins with accuracy — with the ability to distinguish between reliable and misleading data.”
“I advise them to combine professional curiosity with disciplined knowledge.”
“It’s not enough to report the news — you must understand the economic context surrounding it.”
“Learn how to read financial reports, how to ask the right questions to experts, and how to build a reliable network of sources.”
“Most importantly, never stop learning; the economic world is constantly changing, and successful journalists are those who keep pace with this change with awareness and skill.”
