• by Ray Schultz , July 17, 2023

The Associated Press and Open AI are collaborating to share access to news content and examine potential use cases for generative AI. 

Under the arrangement, OpenAI will license part of AP’s text archive, while AP will make use of OpenAI’s technology and product expertise. 

“Generative AI is a fast-moving space with tremendous implications for the news industry,” says Kristin Heitmann, AP senior vice president and chief revenue officer. 

Heitmann adds, “We are pleased that OpenAI recognizes that fact-based, nonpartisan news content is essential to this evolving technology, and that they respect the value of our intellectual property.” 

For its part, OpenAI is “eager to learn from The Associated Press as they delve into how our AI models can have a positive impact on the news industry,” says Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer at OpenAI. 

Lightcap adds that AP “continues to be an industry leader in the use of AI; their feedback—along with access to their high-quality, factual text archive—will help to improve the capabilities and usefulness of OpenAI’s systems.”

The arrangement builds upon AP’s efforts over nearly a decade to use automation to make its journalism more effective, and to help local news outlets integrate technology into their operations. 

AP does not use generative AI in its news stories. But it began automating corporate earnings reports in 2014 and later added automated stories, previewing and recapping some sporting events. Also, AP uses AI technology to help in the transcription of audio and video from live events like press conferences. 

In May, AP added an AI-enabled search capability on its multiformat content delivery platform AP Newsroom. 

AP helps local newsrooms integrate AI through its Local News AI project, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.