NY Times Licenses Content to Amazon for AI Training

NY Times and Amazon Partner on AI Content Licensing

The New York Times has agreed to license its editorial content to Amazon for AI training. This deal allows Amazon to use content from the Times, NYT Cooking, and The Athletic to enhance its AI platforms.

This agreement marks a significant shift for the Times, which previously sued OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged copyright infringement related to AI training. While the terms of the deal remain undisclosed, it represents Amazon's first such agreement and the Times' first generative AI-focused licensing arrangement.

Expanding AI Capabilities

The Times stated that the licensed content will enhance various Amazon customer experiences, potentially including Alexa functionality. This partnership allows Amazon to leverage high-quality journalistic material to improve its AI models.

Following Industry Trends

This agreement follows a trend of similar deals between OpenAI and other publishers like The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Guardian. While the Times previously accused OpenAI and Microsoft of using its content without permission, this new agreement with Amazon suggests a move towards formalized content licensing for AI training.

This licensing agreement marks a significant development in the intersection of media and AI, potentially setting a precedent for future collaborations.