Microsoft and OpenAI are being dragged through the courts in the US by two nonfiction writers.

The generative AI platform and its backer were sued in Manhattan federal court recently by authors Nicholas Basbanes and Nicolas Gage, who allege that their literary works were improperly used in training processes linked to AI models, including ChatGPT’s chatbot.

In what may turn into a class action lawsuit, the former journalists said on Friday of last week that Microsoft and OpenAI violated their copyrights by incorporating segments from their publications into the dataset employed for honing OpenAI’s GPT large language model.

The legal action is part of a broader trend that has seen the likes of US comedian Sarah Silverman and “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin filing lawsuits against big tech firms for alleged unauthorised use of their material in training AI programs. 

Last week, The New York Times joined the legal fray, suing OpenAI and Microsoft for employing journalists’ work in AI application development.

The authors’ lawyer, Michael Richter, has expressed outrage at the situation, highlighting the tech giants’ capacity to fuel a billion-dollar-plus industry without proper compensation for creators of the content being used.

Know the risks

This latest legal skirmish for AI-related matters underscores the growing challenges that businesses face when leveraging evolving technologies.

The subject falls into focus at Global Privacy Day this January, where experts will discuss how organisations can embrace AI safely and ethically as we move through 2024.

Not to be missed at Global Privacy Day

Safeguarding AI Data

Date: Thursday, January 25th 2024

Time: 13:30 – 14:00 GMT

This engaging discussion aims to demystify common misconceptions surrounding AI data protection while shedding light on factual insights. Participants will navigate through the intricacies of safeguarding AI-generated data, gaining a comprehensive understanding of essential practices.

Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, a data protection professional or simply curious about the intersection of AI and privacy, this session promises to unravel the complexities and provide practical insights for effective AI data protection.

Safeguarding AI Data is just one of the exclusive sessions taking place at Global Privacy Day.

Click here to see the full agenda

Global Privacy Day

Taking place virtually on 25 January 2024, as part of Data Privacy Day, Global Privacy Day will bring together thought leaders and senior industry professionals to discuss the present landscape of data protection and privacy and the current and future challenges that professionals face.

This one-day event will provide a platform for attendees to network, exchange ideas, gain insight into the latest developments in the field of privacy, and the opportunity to discuss strategies and best practices to ensure the protection of data.

Click here to register for free for Global Privacy Day