Microsoft exec called AI scraping the “largest theft of labor in human history”
Microsoft, OpenAI emails reveal fear of AI “doom loop” killing news orgs.
For years, Microsoft and OpenAI have been embroiled in a legal battle with news organizations over allegations that the AI firms engaged in copyright infringement by amassing vast amounts of news content to train their AI models. However, confidential details are now being revealed as previously sealed documents are being unsealed.
These documents, which were filed by news plaintiffs such as The New York Times, provide a glimpse into the mindset of Microsoft and OpenAI regarding the controversy. One particularly striking revelation is that Microsoft's Director of Applied Science, Brent Hecht, repeatedly expressed his concerns about the "astonishing theft of unprecedented proportions" that news scraping posed for the industry.
Hecht went as far as comparing it to "the largest theft of labor in human history," a sentiment that starkly contradicts Microsoft and OpenAI's assertion that using news content to train AI falls under the umbrella of "fair use."
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Microsoft exec called AI scraping ‘the largest theft of labor in human history,’ new unredacted filings reveal techcrunch.com
- Microsoft Director Privately Admitted AI Was the “Largest Theft of Labor in Human History,” Unsealed Court Documents Show futurism.com
- NYT alleges Microsoft, OpenAI knew using news content was theft channelnewsasia.com
- NYT alleges Microsoft, OpenAI knowingly used news articles in ‘largest labour theft in human history’ malaymail.com
- NYT alleges Microsoft, OpenAI knew using news content was theft freemalaysiatoday.com
- NYT alleges Microsoft, OpenAI knew using news content was theft nst.com.my
- NYT court filing: ChatGPT's head wrote that publishers face an "existential threat" and a Microsoft executive called AI training "an astonishing theft" (Financial Times) ft.com
