Microsoft and OpenAI face lawsuit over AI training by authors

The authors claim in a proposed class action lawsuit that the companies used their copyrighted works to train the artificial intelligence models powering the popular chatbot ChatGPT and other AI-based services, including OpenAI's GPT large language model.

Basbanes and Gage, both former journalists, allege that including several of their books in the data used for AI training constitutes copyright infringement. The lawsuit is part of a growing trend of legal actions by writers, ranging from comedian Sarah Silverman to "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin, who accuse tech companies of exploiting their works to develop AI programs.

This legal action follows a similar lawsuit filed by The New York Times last week against OpenAI and Microsoft for using its journalists' work in AI application training.

Representatives for Microsoft and OpenAI have yet to respond to the allegations.

Michael Richter, the lawyer representing Basbanes and Gage, criticized the companies for leveraging their clients' works to "power a new billion-dollar-plus industry without any compensation," calling the practice "outrageous."