-By ArdorComm News Network
October 25, 2024
AI startup Perplexity responded Thursday to News Corp’s recent lawsuit, which alleges that the company committed large-scale copyright violations by republishing content from Dow Jones and the New York Post. The lawsuit is part of a wider backlash against generative AI tools from prominent media companies, including Forbes, The New York Times, and Wired, which argue that these tools exploit journalistic content for profit.
Perplexity’s blog post suggests that the media industry’s criticisms stem from a desire to control information, stating, “They prefer a world where publicly reported facts are owned by corporations.” This response marks a more combative stance for Perplexity, contrasting with the startup’s previously cooperative engagement with the media organizations that contribute to its AI-powered search engine.
While Perplexity argued that the lawsuit is “shortsighted” and “self-defeating,” the post notably did not address the primary accusation of the lawsuit: that Perplexity allegedly copies extensive portions of articles, effectively competing with news publishers for the same audience. Instead, the company accused News Corp of sensationalizing claims to sway public opinion.
Interestingly, Perplexity pointed out News Corp’s partnership with OpenAI, which integrates its content with ChatGPT, to illustrate that many media companies are not entirely opposed to AI partnerships. Perplexity also highlighted its own revenue-sharing programs with outlets like Time, Fortune, and Der Spiegel, suggesting that some media companies are open to AI collaborations under mutually beneficial terms.
The post additionally challenged claims made by News Corp, arguing that its portrayal of Perplexity’s practices is misleading and noting that they have responded to the media company’s outreach.
The case is set to progress in court, where Perplexity’s defense is likely to present more in-depth arguments, potentially reshaping the AI and media landscape further.
Source: techcrunch