Policy & Drama

Microsoft exec called AI scraping the “largest theft of labor in human history”

For years, Microsoft and OpenAI have fought to keep certain information out of the public eye in their fight with news organizations that have accused the AI firms of teaming up to violate copyright laws by stealing tons of news content to train AI. However, now the details that should never have been marked confidential are starting to leak. In a motion for summary judgment that was unsealed Thursday from news plaintiffs led by The New York Times, internal documents are exposed that news groups

Get smart on it

Internal documents from a lawsuit reveal that executives at major AI companies warned that training AI systems on news content without permission constitutes massive copyright infringement and threatens news organizations' survival. A director at one company called the practice "the largest theft of labor in human history," while executives acknowledged that AI chatbots are replacing news sites by providing information directly to users rather than directing them to original sources. The leaked documents show the companies understood this "doom loop" would damage both news organizations and the quality of AI systems that depend on reliable news content, yet proceeded with their products anyway. News organizations argue these internal admissions prove the companies cannot claim fair use protections and are preparing to take the case to trial.

The biggest AI stories, once a day

One short email a day with the stories that matter. Free. Unsubscribe with one click.

Relevant courses

Want to go deeper than the news? Explore live, cohort-based AI courses taught by practitioners.

Browse AI courses on Maven
Related news
Policy & DramaOpen story →

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns amid spy, affair scandals

Jensen Huang at GTC Berlin last month. | Photo: Soeren Stache / picture alliance via Getty Images Nvidia's board has ousted Jensen Huang, its longtime co-founder, president, and CEO, after reports of two extramarital affairs - one with an alleged Chinese spy and one with an Nvidia executive who reported to Huang. A press release published Thursday morning announced Huang's resignation, effective immediately, as current CFO Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO. Huang has

Policy & DramaOpen story →

Nvidia is reportedly preparing to fire Jensen Huang

Nvidia's board is preparing to dismiss CEO Jensen Huang following a report from the New York Times about a second alleged extramarital affair, just days after he admitted to a separate affair with a woman alleged to be a Chinese spy, The Wall Street Journal reports. The second alleged affair was with an executive who reports to him, Nvidia's vice president of health care, Kimberly Powell, according to the Times, saying the two may have been captured on video "being affectionate

Also reported by TechCrunch and Wired AI

Policy & DramaOpen story →

The unfolding Jensen Huang scandal: a timeline

The affair could have ramifications for national security as the U.S. and China race to develop the most advanced AI infrastructure.

Policy & DramaOpen story →

Jensen Huang accused of having another affair, with an Nvidia exec

Jensen Huang, who has come under fire for admitting to an affair with a woman accused of being a Chinese intelligence agent, has been accused of having a separate affair with an Nvidia subordinate.

Policy & DramaOpen story →

Congress to call Jensen Huang in to answer for alleged Chinese spy affair

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has until the end of the day Wednesday to answer a call from House Republicans for a closed-door briefing on his affair with alleged Chinese spy.

Policy & DramaOpen story →

Nvidia is investigating Jensen Huang’s relationship with a Chinese spy

Nvidia has announced that it is opening an investigation into CEO Jensen Huang and his relationship with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, who was reportedly recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to spy on the company. A statement posted by the board of directors reads: The NVIDIA Board is initiating an independent investigation in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independe

Also reported by TechCrunch, Wired AI and Data Center Knowledge