News Corporation has unveiled a groundbreaking multi-year agreement with OpenAI, granting the artificial intelligence developer permission to use content from its renowned publications in response to user queries.

This strategic partnership aims to enhance OpenAI’s products with reliable and premium news sources.

The agreement covers content from prominent News Corp titles, including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Australian. OpenAI will also gain access to the extensive archives of these publications, such as The Times, which dates back to 1785. However, the deal does not extend to content from other News Corp businesses.

This partnership is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to collaborate with media organisations to power its AI technology with authoritative information, ensuring it operates within copyright boundaries. Previous collaborations include partnerships with Axel Springer, Associated Press, and the Financial Times.

Generative AI, which produces human-like content from prompts, relies on large-language models created from vast datasets, including news articles. The quality of these models is directly influenced by the reliability and depth of the information they are built upon.

Creative industries have raised concerns about the unauthorised use of their content by AI developers. Several, including The New York Times and Sony Music, have pursued legal action against OpenAI for using their intellectual property without proper compensation.

Robert Thomson, News Corp’s Chief Executive, emphasised the transformative potential of the deal for journalism. Speaking to Fox Business, he highlighted the importance of combining artificial intelligence with “actual intelligence” to uphold the standards of journalism.

In a memo to staff, Thomson acknowledged the agreement as a pivotal moment for premium journalism in the digital age. He noted the challenges media companies have faced due to the dominance of digital distributors and expressed optimism about leveraging this partnership to safeguard and enhance the value of quality journalism.

Publicly, Thomson remarked: “We believe this historic agreement will set new standards for veracity, virtue, and value in the digital age. We are delighted to have found principled partners in Sam Altman and his talented team, who understand the commercial and social significance of journalists and journalism. This landmark accord is not an end but the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, echoed these sentiments, describing the partnership as a proud moment for both journalism and technology. “We greatly value News Corp’s history as a leader in breaking news and are excited to enhance our users’ access to its high-quality reporting. Together, we are setting the foundation for a future where AI deeply respects, enhances, and upholds the standards of world-class journalism.”

This historic partnership signals a new era in the collaboration between artificial intelligence and premium journalism, promising to deliver insightful and integrity-driven content instantaneously to users worldwide.