OpenAI, Microsoft Offer $10M for AI in Journalism

OpenAI and Microsoft are joining forces to advance AI-driven journalism by providing $10 million in grants. This initiative seeks to introduce AI tools into U.S. newsrooms, following a wave of lawsuits from media organizations.

The grants will be distributed to outlets such as Chicago Public Media, the Minnesota Star Tribune, Newsday, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Seattle Times. These organizations will hire AI fellows for two years to explore how AI can improve their journalism and business sustainability. Additional publications will be chosen for funding in a later round.

Both OpenAI and Microsoft are contributing $2.5 million in direct funding and $2.5 million in software credits. The Lenfest Institute of Journalism is partnering with them on this project.

This effort comes as both companies face lawsuits from media outlets like The New York Times and The Center for Investigative Reporting, alleging their content was misused by AI models such as ChatGPT. Some publishers, like Condé Nast, have opted to negotiate agreements with OpenAI instead of pursuing legal action.

In a separate development, OpenAI has appointed Aaron Chatterji as its first chief economist, signaling the company’s growing focus on policy and economic matters.