Nicholas Gage and Nicholas Basbanes, both veteran journalists in their eighties, have taken bold action against tech giants OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of systematic plagiarism. These esteemed authors contend that their life’s work may have been stolen and reused without consent or compensation. They enlisted the aid of Gage’s son-in-law to file suit against the corporations backing the controversial AI chatbot, ChatGPT.
Both gentlemen spent decades honing their journalistic crafts, producing numerous best-selling novels and articles. Their combined expertise spans multiple genres: true-crime stories, historical accounts, and even Hollywood adaptations (John Malkovich portrayed Gage in the 1985 movie Eleni). Now, they’re standing together against alleged theft of intellectual property.
“It’s highway robbery,” declared Gage, sitting amidst stacks of dusty manuscripts within his cozy farmstead home.
“Indeed!” echoed Basbanes, nodding vigorously beside his friend. “We’ve invested our hearts and souls – ‘we worked too hard on these tomes.'”
Their initial grievance centered upon discovering how easily AI tools replicated information sans proper citation or payment. This sparked outrage among fellow scribes, leading prominent figures like John Grisham, Jody Piccoult, and Game of Throne’s creator George R.R. Martin to join forces against potential copyright infringement.
At issue lies whether massive data harvesting constitutes fair game for corporate profit-making purposes. Critics argue that AI algorithms rely heavily on uncredited sources, depriving originators of rightful earnings. Conversely, proponents cite free market principles and existing online norms allowing unfettered sharing.
Microsoft CEO Mustafa Suleymon recently justified current practice citing precedent set forth via widespread digital dissemination dating back to the nineties. However, critics counterclaim selective memory loss regarding explicit restrictions placed by certain publishers disallowing scraping activities.
As litigation unfolds across various sectors involving creative industries, many professionals face existential threats due to emerging technologies’ rapid encroachment onto traditional domains. Some seek individual settlements granting licenses for archived materials; meanwhile, stalwarts resist surrender.
“Somebody actually goes out [to] report, conducts genuine interviews…and puts things coherently,” emphasized Frank Pines, Executive Editor of Medial NewsGroup. His company owns several major dailies which collectively accused OpenAi of IP violations. “[That]’real labor,’ impossible for AIs.”
Meanwhile, amid ongoing consolidation of suits, Gage and Basbane will unlikely testify directly yet continue championing artistic integrity alongside peers rallying toward preserving authentic storytelling voices.
These seasoned veterans understand firsthand the blood-and-sweat investment required crafting compelling narratives capable of captivating readers worldwide. As one embarks on retirement age, concerns arise surrounding younger generations potentially shying away from pursuing journalism due to perceived diminished financial viability.
And where does that leave us? How can AI possibly cover stories? All it is capable of doing is rewriting someone else’s work.
