Microsoft exec called AI the ‘largest theft of labor’ in history, court records show

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1. 56m ago

   Microsoft Executive Called AI Scraping "Largest Theft of Labor in Human History"

   Unredacted court filings reveal a Microsoft director privately described AI training on scraped content as the "largest theft of labor in human history." This admission surfaces amid ongoing legal disputes over the use of news content to train large language models. The New York Times alleges that both Microsoft and OpenAI were aware that using this content constituted theft and posed an existential threat to publishers. News outlets argue these internal admissions could undermine the copyright defenses currently used by the AI companies.

   Why it matters

   The dispute centers on whether scraping public web data for AI training is legal or a violation of copyright. This case highlights the tension between AI development and the economic viability of the publishing industry.

   What is confirmed

   • A Microsoft executive described AI scraping as the "largest theft of labor in human history" in court records.
   • Unredacted filings contain the Microsoft executive's comments on AI training.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Internal quotes from executives threaten the copyright defense of OpenAI and Microsoft.

   What to watch next

   • Further unsealing of internal communications between Microsoft and OpenAI regarding publisher impact.
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. Financial Times — OpenAI staff knew the ‘existential threat’ AI posed to publishers, New York Times claims
   2. TechCrunch — Microsoft exec called AI scraping ‘the largest theft of labor in human history,' new unredacted filings reveal
   3. arstechnica.com — Microsoft exec called AI scraping the “largest theft of labor in human history”
   4. washingtonpost.com — Microsoft exec called AI the ‘largest theft of labor’ in history, court records show
   5. The New York Times — Inside Microsoft and OpenAI, Worry About Damaging the Publishing Industry
   6. Reuters — OpenAI, Microsoft executives' quotes on AI training threaten copyright defense, news outlets argue
   7. Tech Xplore — NYT alleges Microsoft, OpenAI knew using news content was theft
   8. 404media.co — ‘Doom Loop’: OpenAI and Microsoft Admits LLMs Are Destroying the Web and Built on Theft
   9. jen.jiji.com — Kazakhstan calls for greater digital trade cooperation within SCO
   10. jen.jiji.com — China’s Spirit AI develops robot software for broader industrial use
   11. www.sofx.com — Microsoft Executive Called AI Training the ‘Largest Theft of Labor in History’
   confidence 90%