SAN FRANCISCO — OpenAI is further enhancing its commitment to fostering a healthy and thriving news ecosystem through partnerships and grant programs aimed at helping newsrooms integrate artificial intelligence tools. In the process, ChatGPT users gain access to valuable and reliable content from leading publications worldwide.
In the past year, OpenAI has worked closely with various media organizations, collecting feedback to develop tailored solutions. The goal has been to assist journalists in overcoming time-consuming tasks, enrich ChatGPT’s understanding of current events, and provide publishers with innovative ways to reach new audiences through AI technology. As a relatively young company, OpenAI is making significant investments in the news sector, creating opportunities for technology and journalism to work together for the benefit of both industries and users alike.
As part of this effort, OpenAI is announcing a new collaboration with Axios. The company will provide funding to help expand Axios’ local news coverage by establishing new newsrooms in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Boulder, and Huntsville. Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei remarked, “OpenAI’s investment allows us to continue our expansion and help us bring essential local news to deserving communities.”
To date, OpenAI has partnered with nearly 20 major media outlets, expanding its reach to over 160 news organizations across more than 20 languages. Collaborations with outlets such as News Corp, The Atlantic, Vox Media, and Condé Nast have enabled ChatGPT search to feature trusted media excerpts and summaries, which are directly linked to original sources. This collaboration strengthens the news ecosystem and enhances the user experience, allowing over 300 million active users worldwide to engage with high-quality journalism.
“The opportunity to work with OpenAI has allowed us to make our journalism more accessible to a broader audience,” said Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic. “We want to leverage the tools of the future to help people discover our best reporting in real-time.”
For organizations like News Corp, OpenAI’s collaboration is a crucial step in ensuring the integrity of journalism. “We are committed to objective journalism, and OpenAI’s dedication to trustworthy sources aligns with our goals,” said Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corp.
In addition to new partnerships, OpenAI is working to enhance the efficiency and innovation of newsrooms globally. For example, The Associated Press is using AI to increase the speed of translation services and automate search-optimized headlines, while also reducing the time spent on data mining. Similarly, Axel Springer has developed “Hey_,” a personalized AI news assistant that allows readers to interact with journalism more intuitively. The tool has already answered over 100 million questions since its September 2023 launch.
Dotdash Meredith is leveraging OpenAI’s technology for smarter ad targeting with D/Cipher, an innovative tool that improves ad efficiency by analyzing content and understanding user intent without relying on personal data. Meanwhile, the Financial Times is exploring AI to automate tasks and improve audience interactions, with promising results in identifying potential advertising violations.
Other organizations, such as Hearst and Le Monde, are using AI to personalize local content and streamline newsroom operations. TIME has also introduced an AI-powered toolbar that enhances user engagement with content like its “Person of the Year” feature. Through these collaborations, OpenAI is helping news organizations improve both their operations and user experiences.
To support AI innovation in newsrooms, OpenAI has partnered with organizations like the American Journalism Project, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, and WAN-IFRA. These collaborations provide grants, API credits, and educational opportunities to newsrooms of all sizes, helping them integrate AI into their workflows. The American Journalism Project’s Product & AI Studio has already supported over 50 local news organizations, while WAN-IFRA’s Newsroom AI Catalyst program is equipping newsrooms across Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America with AI tools tailored to their needs.
“As AI continues to transform the news industry, it is essential that we support the organizations doing the critical work of informing and engaging communities,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project.
Through these partnerships, OpenAI is not only enhancing the capabilities of newsrooms but also ensuring that AI can be a valuable asset in the pursuit of truthful, timely, and engaging journalism.
