The NYT was developing its own internal AI chatbot in 2023, internal messages reveal

Breaking news development: The New York Times was developing its own ChatGPT-like tool in 2023, according to evidence revealed in ongoing legal proceedings between Microsoft and the media company.

Legal discovery details: Microsoft’s court filings in its AI copyright dispute with The New York Times have uncovered internal Slack messages that provide insights into the media company’s AI development plans.

• The messages show NYT’s product team instructing developers to avoid using external large language models (AI systems that can understand and generate human-like text)
• This directive was given because the company was preparing to roll out its own internal AI system
• The timing of these communications occurred in 2023, during a period of rapid AI tool development across the media industry

Current context: The revelation emerges amid broader tensions between traditional media organizations and technology companies over AI training data and copyright issues.

• Microsoft and The New York Times are currently engaged in a legal battle over the use of copyrighted content for AI training
• The tech giant is pressing for additional discovery regarding how Times reporters utilize chatbot technology
• This internal AI development could potentially relate to other AI tools The Times has since announced publicly

Looking ahead: While the exact nature and current status of the NYT’s internal AI tool remains unclear, this development suggests major media companies are actively pursuing their own AI capabilities rather than solely relying on third-party solutions, potentially reshaping the dynamics between media organizations and tech companies in the AI era.