• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, June 27, 2024

OpenAI has signed a multiyear data deal and strategic partnership with ‘Time’ to bring its journalism to its products including ChatGPT.

The deal announced Thursday means OpenAI will gain access to current and historic content from Time’s archives from the last 101 years. The goal is to enhance its products and display attribution in response to user queries. It will feature citation and link back to the original source on Time.com.

Time's 101 year history will provide authoritative historical facts for the content to index higher in traditional search engines. ‘Time’ COO Mark Howard told OpenAI that the publisher has embraced innovation to ensure that the delivery of trusted journalism evolves alongside technology, and this partnership advances that mission to expand access to trusted information globally.

Time was founded in 1923 by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden with a mission to create a newsletter, about 24 pages, “a complete account of the week’s developments in politics, art, science, foreign news, sport, books, and all the other things that interest you.”

More major news companies have opted-in to data agreements with OpenAI. The data helps to train its large language models (LLMs).

Unlike traditional engines Google Search and Microsoft Bing, these agreements give the media companies input into how their content is used and accessed across OpenAI’s technology. It also provides access to OpenAI’s technology.

OpenAI has been working to make it easier for people to access news content through its AI tools and to support reputable journalism.

OpenAI has gone through a wave of publisher licensing deals, such the The Atlantic, Vox Media, and the dozens of media and internet companies owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC). The data used to feed and train large language models (LLMs).

Similar to these other data partnerships with publishers, this deal gives ‘Time’ access to OpenAI's technology to develop new products for its readers, along with the opportunity to provide feedback and share practical applications to finetune the delivery of journalism in ChatGPT and other OpenAI products.

Time took down its digital paywall last year, citing the ability to reach a broader readership, which is exactly what the OpenAI deal promises.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but previous deals with OpenAI have been structured to include compensation for publishers. News Corp’s deal with OpenAI is estimated at $250 million during the next five years, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal with the Financial Times is believed to be worth $5 to $10 million.

Additional reporting done by Ray Schultz, journalist at MediaPost covering email and publishing.