Hey followers! Today we’re diving into a fascinating tech story about a major media outlet and a tech giant teaming up. The New York Times has decided to license its editorial content to Amazon for training AI systems.

After long-standing disputes over AI training data, the Times has signed its first licensing deal focused on generative AI, licensing articles and content from its various platforms including NYT Cooking and The Athletic. This move allows Amazon to use Times content across its services, potentially including Alexa on smart speakers.

While the exact terms weren’t disclosed, this is a milestone for Amazon as it’s their first such agreement. The deal comes after the Times accused AI companies like OpenAI and Microsoft of unauthorized use of its articles to train AI models, which both platforms deny.

The arrangement is expected to spread Times content through Amazon’s AI-powered customer experiences. Industry insiders see this as part of a bigger shift where publishers seek compensation for their work being used to train AI systems, which has been a contentious issue.

In the broader landscape, OpenAI has also signed similar deals with publishers like The Washington Post, The Guardian, and others. This new deal indicates a move towards formal licensing in AI training, aiming for fairer use of editorial content and addressing copyright concerns.

TechCrunch is reaching out for more info, and we’ll keep an eye on how this develops. It’s a big step for media and AI collaboration, and who knows — maybe one day your favorite news stories could be read out by Alexa powered by Times content!