New York Times files lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI – EASY

The New York Times is suing Microsoft and OpenAI, the company that made ChatGPT. The New York Times says ChatGPT learned from many New York Times articles without asking.

People have to pay money to read articles on the New York Times website. If ChatGPT shares the stories for free, the New York Times loses money.

The New York Times also complained about Microsoft’s Bing using ChatGPT. Bing might show New York Times news but not give a link to their website.

At the beginning of the year, the New York Times tried to talk to Microsoft and OpenAI about this problem, but the companies didn’t agree.

Other people like famous writers and comedians are also suing OpenAI. The famous people think OpenAI used their work for ChatGPT without asking.

Vocabulary

• Sue – To take legal action against someone for doing something wrong or causing harm; to fight someone in a court of law;
• Article – A piece of writing in a newspaper, magazine, or online; a written news story
• Pay – to give money and get something; to give money in exchange for something; 
• Share – to tell someone or people about something; to make public; to announce; to give to other people
• Complain – to say you’re not happy or you don’t like something
• Show – To display or present something; to share
• Link – URL; a code or address that takes you to a website
• Agree – to decide something together; to accept an idea or suggestion
• Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
• Writer – a person who writes, especially books or stories
• Comedian – A person who makes people laugh by telling jokes;

Discussion Questions

• What do you think about the New York Times suing Microsoft and OpenAI over ChatGPT learning from their articles without permission?
• Do you believe it’s fair for people to have to pay to read articles on the New York Times website? Why or why not?
• What is your opinion on Microsoft’s Bing showing New York Times news but not providing a link to their website? Is that okay?
• Do you think companies like OpenAI should be allowed to use articles from newspapers without permission? Why or why not?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

www.bbc.com

New York Times sues Microsoft and OpenAI for ‘billions’

The US news organisation claims millions of its articles were used without permission to train ChatGPT.

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

The New York Times _____ suing Microsoft and OpenAI, the company that _____ ChatGPT. The New York Times says ChatGPT _____ from many New York Times articles without asking.

People have to _____ money to read articles on the New York Times website. If ChatGPT _____ the stories for free, the New York Times loses _____.

The New York Times also complained _____ Microsoft’s Bing using ChatGPT. Bing might show New York Times news _____ not give a link to their website.

At the _____ of the year, the New York Times tried to talk to Microsoft and OpenAI about this _____, but the companies didn’t _____.

Other people like famous _____ and comedians are also suing OpenAI. The famous people _____ OpenAI used their work for ChatGPT without _____.