Hey, I read that companies like Google and OpenAI use news content to train their AI without paying the news sites. Is that true?

Yes, that’s right! A recent study found that AI companies use a lot of high-quality news content to make their chatbots smarter, but they don’t pay for it.

Why would they use news content? Can’t they just use general web info?

News content is reliable and well-researched. By using it, AI chatbots like ChatGPT can give better answers. So, they prioritize it in training.

I see. But if they’re not paying, doesn’t that hurt the news companies?

Exactly! News publishers like The New York Times and The Washington Post spend a lot of money on quality reporting. If AI companies use that content without paying, it could affect the publishers' income.

That sounds unfair. Why don’t these news companies just stop AI companies from using their articles?

Some have tried. There are lawsuits from news companies against AI companies for using content without permission. But it's complicated legally because of how data scraping and copyright laws work.

So, are there any laws about this? Can’t the government do something?

There are some rules, but AI technology is moving faster than the laws can keep up. Right now, AI companies can use public online content if it’s not restricted.

Hmm, seems like AI companies are making money from this, but the news sites aren’t. That doesn’t sound fair.

True, and that’s why some news sites are pushing for licensing fees. They want AI companies to pay for using their content, just like streaming services pay for music or shows.

Has anyone paid yet? Are there any deals like that?

Yes, actually! OpenAI has signed some licensing deals with big media companies, so it’s starting to happen. But not everyone is on board yet.

I get it now. AI companies need the news to make their chatbots better, but if they don’t support the news financially, we could lose quality journalism.

Exactly. It’s a tough situation. If news sites don’t get paid, they might not survive, and that would mean less high-quality content for everyone.

It seems like AI companies and news publishers need to find a fair balance.

Definitely! They both rely on each other in a way, so a good solution would benefit both sides.

Thanks for explaining! I didn’t realize that AI training could impact journalism so much.

No problem! It’s an important issue, especially as AI gets more popular. Let’s hope they figure out a way to support news creators fairly.