OpenAI signs licensing deal with Financial Times to train ChatGPT models

London-based business newspaper Financial Times has announced a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with OpenAI to help train ChatGPT models with attributed content. 

Through the partnership, ChatGPT users will be able to see select attributed summaries, quotes and links to FT journalism in response to relevant queries. 

The partnership will help improve ChatGPT models’ usefulness by incorporating FT journalism, and collaborate on developing new AI products and features for FT readers. 

“This is an important agreement in a number of respects. It recognises the value of our award-winning journalism and will give us early insights into how content is surfaced through AI. We have long been a leader in news media innovation, pioneering the subscription model and engagement technologies, and this partnership will help keep us at the forefront of developments in how people access and use information,” said FT Group’s chief executive officer John Ridding. 

“The FT is committed to human journalism, as produced by our unrivalled newsroom, and this agreement will broaden the reach of that work, while deepening our understanding of reader demands and interests,” Ridding added. 

“Apart from the benefits to the FT, there are broader implications for the industry. It’s right, of course, that AI platforms pay publishers for the use of their material. OpenAI understands the importance of transparency, attribution, and compensation – all essential for us. At the same time, it’s clearly in the interests of users that these products contain reliable sources,” he further said. 

Expressing enthusiasm about the evolving relationship with the Financial Times, Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, said: “Our partnership and ongoing dialogue with the FT is about finding creative and productive ways for AI to empower news organisations and journalists, and enrich the ChatGPT experience with real-time, world-class journalism for millions of people around the world.” 

“We’re keen to explore the practical outcomes regarding news sources and AI through this partnership,” Ridding said. “We value the opportunity to be inside the development loop as people discover content in new ways. As with any transformative technology, there is potential for significant advancements and major challenges, but what’s never possible is turning back time. It’s important for us to represent quality journalism as these products take shape – with the appropriate safeguards in place to protect the FT’s content and brand. 

We have always embraced new technologies and disruption, and we’ll continue to operate with both curiosity and vigilance as we navigate this next wave of change.”

Earlier this year, the FT became a customer of ChatGPT Enterprise after purchasing access for all of its employees to ensure its teams are well-versed in the technology and can benefit from the creativity and productivity gains made possible by OpenAI’s tools.