OpenAI and Microsoft have partnered with Lenfest Institute for Journalism for incorporation of AI tools into reporting and have pledged funding of up to $10 million to it.
The two companies each have pledged direct funding of $2.5 million and another $2.5 million in enterprise software credits.
The move comes after months of accusations by media firms against OpenAI of theft of content to train its models.
Under the project, the funding will go to Chicago Public Media, the Minnesota Star Tribune, Newsday (in Long Island, NY), The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Seattle Times.
Each publication will be required to hire a two-year AI fellow to develop projects for implementing the technology and improving business sustainability.
Three more outlets are expected to receive fellowship grants in a second round.
Over the months, OpenAI and Microsoft have been sued by the Center for Investigative Reporting, The New York Times, The Intercept, Raw Story and AlterNet.
OpenAI has been accused of scraping publications' data to train its ChatGPT and denying royalty to media houses for the use of content.
It had earlier collaborated with Condé Nast for rights to its content.
"We need local journalism to inform and educate citizens, expose wrongdoing, and encourage civic engagement. We will work with the Lenfest AI Fellowship to drive AI innovation that can help news organisations create new products to extend their reporting, find new sources of revenue, and ultimately build a more sustainable future," said Teresa Hutson, corporate vice president, technology for fundamental rights at Microsoft.
Last year, OpenAI collaborated with publisher Axel Springer for use of its content, allowing ChatGPT users worldwide to get quick summaries of global news from Axel Springer's media brands, including Politico, Business Insider, Bild, and Welt, and even the paid content.
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