News Corp CEO Warns of ‘Slimy Sea of AI Slop,’ Threatens More Lawsuits

News Corp CEO Robert Thomson delivered a stern warning to artificial intelligence companies during his company's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call, alleging that their customers could be entangled in the media conglomerate's expanding legal proceedings. Thomson emphasized that the efficacy of AI is contingent upon the caliber and authenticity of its data inputs, asserting that a lack of quality journalism and creative content would result in users being overwhelmed by "a slimy sea of AI slop."

As one of numerous media entities maneuvering through the intricate legal and competitive landscape of AI, News Corp. has established licensing alliances with OpenAI and Meta, and is currently in advanced negotiations with several additional entities. Simultaneously, the corporation is engaged in legal action against entities it contends have illicitly utilized its content.

Notably, Thomson targeted AI search platform Perplexity and browser manufacturer Brave, accusing the latter of employing masked web crawlers to accumulate copyrighted articles, subsequently reselling the information to corporate clientele. He cautioned that businesses partnering with these entities should be aware they possess "stolen goods," and expressed confidence that News Corp.'s legal actions will uncover and cease the alleged unlawful practices.

Furthermore, Thomson hinted at the potential for future litigation beyond AI developers, targeting clients who knowingly or unknowingly purchased stolen content. The CEO also defended News Corp.'s present licensing accords, countering queries regarding the adequacy of AI partnerships in light of diminishing search referral traffic.

Thomson affirmed that the company's relationships with OpenAI and Meta are not limited to mere commercial arrangements, asserting that they serve as "savvy distributors," with News Corp.'s inputs being indispensable to their outputs. He further disclosed that News Corp.'s partnership with Meta is already positively impacting the company's operations and hinted at forthcoming agreements, while expressing optimism that litigation will be curtailed.