Microsoft, OpenAI Launch $10M AI News Initiative

Microsoft and OpenAI have launched a $10 million initiative aimed at integrating AI into local newsrooms through a fellowship program in collaboration with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Initially, five media outlets, including Newsday, The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Public Media, and The Seattle Times, will receive grants to hire AI fellows for two years. These fellows will work on projects to enhance business sustainability and implement AI technologies using Microsoft Azure and OpenAI software credits. This initiative seeks to promote local journalism by exploring AI applications such as transcription, content summaries, and creating conversational search tools. The program underscores the potential role of AI in supporting journalism, despite ongoing industry concerns about AI's impact and a lawsuit against Perplexity AI for content copying. Additional funding will be awarded to three more outlets at a later stage to further explore AI's role in the news industry.