The UK’s public broadcaster, the BBC, is reportedly delving into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) by leveraging its extensive archives and journalism to craft AI models. The intent is to create AI tools that would aid its journalists in producing stories, as reported by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter. The BBC is not only focusing on internal AI model development but has also engaged in discussions with tech companies, such as Amazon, for potentially granting access to its vast archives to facilitate the training of general-purpose AI models. These endeavors align with the broadcaster’s concerns about AI companies utilizing its freely available content for model training, notwithstanding existing measures to prevent such access.
According to the Financial Times, BBC executives are wary of the use of their content for AI model training without formal agreements in place. In response, the BBC has stated that while it currently has no formal agreements with any organization, it is actively exploring ways to address challenges associated with large language models, including potential bias. This exploration may take the form of partnerships or unilateral actions. Notably, this initiative places the BBC among a growing cohort of media organizations that have pursued collaborations with tech companies for AI model training leveraging their journalistic content, reflecting the increasing intersection of media and AI technologies.
