New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger sharply criticized AI companies on June 1, 2023, accusing them of a "brazen theft of intellectual property" on an unprecedented scale during a speech at the 77th WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille, France [1]. Sulzberger said tech giants "strip-mine news websites without permission or compensation," raising alarm about the impact on journalism [1, 2].
Sulzberger warned the industry faces a bleak future as AI firms diminish the role of original reporting. "I fear we are careening toward a future with fewer and fewer journalists to do the expensive, difficult work of original reporting," he said [1]. He also condemned AI companies for consolidating excessive control over data and public attention without fulfilling their duty to ensure access to trustworthy news and information [2].
The New York Times has launched lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted material [1, 2]. Sulzberger underscored that the media industry is under growing pressure from AI alongside stiff competition from social networks [1, 2].
The WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress is held in partnership with CMA Media, the media division of the CMA CGM shipping group. The event runs through June 3, 2023, and brings together global media leaders to discuss challenges facing the news industry [1, 2].
Sulzberger said, "Our profession has been too quiet, too passive and too fragmented in the face of abuses by the companies leading the AI revolution," calling for the industry to act [2].
Coverage of Sulzberger’s remarks appeared June 2 in The Edge Malaysia following his June 1 speech [2]. The lawsuits against AI firms remain ongoing as digital publishers confront the legal and ethical issues posed by new technologies.
