Meta has signed a multi-year agreement with Reuters to incorporate live news into its AI chatbot, allowing users to receive up-to-date information on current events through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
As reported by Axios, users in the U.S. can access Reuters’ news when they interact with Meta’s AI assistant. If someone asks about recent news, the chatbot will provide answers that reference Reuters articles and include direct links to the full stories.
Reuters is being paid for its content, although specific details haven’t been made public. It’s not clear whether this deal lets Meta use Reuters’ articles to train its language model, known as Llama.
Meta Adjusts Its Approach to News Content
After reducing news in its main feeds due to regulatory concerns, Meta is now enhancing its AI assistant’s ability to provide news, indicating a shift in strategy. In 2019, when the company was still called Facebook, it had deals with publishers for its News Tab but pulled back after the 2020 election.
A representative from Meta stated, “Our partnership with Reuters allows Meta AI to answer news-related questions with summaries and links to their content. While many people use Meta AI for creative tasks or exploring topics, this collaboration helps those seeking information on current events.”
Legal Troubles Hit Other AI Companies
This agreement comes at a time when other AI firms are facing lawsuits over how they use content. Perplexity AI, an AI-powered answer engine, is currently being sued by News Corp and The New York Times for allegedly reproducing copyrighted material without permission.
News Corp filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing it of using its articles to create summaries, which they say diverts readers from their websites and leads to lost ad revenue. News Corp is seeking up to $150,000 for each alleged copyright infringement.
Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, defends the company’s practices by stating that they gather factual information without violating copyright laws. He argued that many media companies are trying to resist new technology and emphasized that Perplexity provides accountable access by citing sources and focusing on facts rather than entire articles.
Publishers Demand Compensation for Content Use
Other media outlets have also taken issue with Perplexity’s methods. Forbes and Wired have reported cases where Perplexity allegedly copied parts of their articles too closely. In response, Perplexity introduced a revenue-sharing program, offering advertising-based compensation to publishers who partner with them. Partners include TIME, Fortune, and The Texas Tribune, but many media companies remain cautious.
Meanwhile, OpenAI and Microsoft have taken a different path by investing $10 million in a program run by the Lenfest Institute to help local newsrooms adopt AI tools. Announced on October 22, 2024, this initiative aims to provide resources for five U.S. metro news outlets to explore how AI can streamline editorial and business operations.
The participating newsrooms will receive grants to hire AI specialists who will develop solutions tailored to each outlet’s needs. For example, Chicago Public Media plans to use AI for transcription and translation, making their content more accessible.
OpenAI Secures Licensing Deals to Avoid Legal Disputes
OpenAI has also made licensing agreements with major publishers to sidestep legal issues over content rights. Earlier this year, OpenAI signed a $250 million deal with News Corp, giving it permission to use News Corp’s content in its models for ChatGPT. News Corp praised OpenAI’s approach as a respectful way to use AI in journalism.
In addition to News Corp, OpenAI has partnerships with The Atlantic, Vox Media, Axel Springer, the Financial Times, TIME, Reddit, and Stack Overflow to gather training data for its AI models. A deal with Condé Nast allows OpenAI to access content from well-known publications like The New Yorker, Vogue, and WIRED.
Ongoing Legal Battles Over AI and Copyright
Despite these partnerships, OpenAI isn’t free from legal challenges. In December 2023, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming unauthorized use of its copyrighted material to train AI models. Other lawsuits have been brought by writers such as Michael Chabon and David Henry Hwang, accusing OpenAI of unlawfully accessing their works.
Perplexity AI continues to face pressure, with The New York Times recently sending a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that the company stop summarizing its articles or face further legal action.
The current legal disputes highlight the tension between AI companies and news publishers over how content is used. AI platforms that provide direct answers without sending users to original sources raise concerns about decreased web traffic and revenue for publishers.
By partnering with a respected news agency like Reuters, Meta aims to enhance its AI assistant while respecting content ownership. This strategy contrasts with the challenges faced by Perplexity AI and underscores the importance of collaboration in the evolving relationship between AI and news media.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:20 pm CET