Anthony Edwards and Tech Integrity
No Hype... How an Orange Wristband Informs AI Ethics
The Rundown↓
KNOW that the New York Times signed a deal to license their content for use by Amazon’s AI services.
REALIZE that the Times has a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft over using Times content for OpenAI’s LLM training.
EXPLORE our article on Between Blind Acceptance and Reflexive Rejection.
Details↓
Last week the New York Times agreed to a licensing deal with Amazon to allow their AI services like Alexa to use the news company’s content. In an internal memo obtained and published by CNN, Times CEO, Meredith Kopit Levien, wrote:
It aligns with our deliberate approach to ensuring that our work is valued appropriately, whether through commercial deals or through the enforcement of our intellectual property rights.”
This is a first for the Times, which is in the middle of a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. The Times alleges OpenAI used their stories and IP without license or permission to train their LLMs (AI models). OpenAI claims LLM training is covered by the fair use legal doctrine.
Commentary↓
I get it. It’s easy to think news like this is irrelevant. Who cares about the New York Times? Many don’t. I only follow Times articles by Jon Krawczynski, who covers the Timberwolves. He recently wrote an article about the orange wristband Anthony Edwards wore this season. Luca, a Michigan boy who has been fighting Leukemia, gave Edwards the wristband after a Timberwolves loss to the Pistons in January. Edwards told Luca, “I’ll wear this for the rest of my career.”