Microsoft and OpenAI are giving news outlets $10 million to use AI tools

Microsoft and OpenAI announced they're offering a select group of media outlets up to $10 million ($2.5 million in cash plus $2.5 million worth of "software and enterprise credits" from each) to try out AI tools in the newsroom.

This news comes while the two companies are still facing a slew of copyright lawsuits, including from The New York Times, The Intercept, Raw Story, AlterNet, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund behind the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune. Those have continued despite licensing deals reached with many media outlets, including The Verge's parent company, Vox Media.

The first round of funding will go to Newsday, The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Public Media, and The Seattle Times.

These outlets will receive a grant to hire a two-year fellow who will work to develop and implement AI tools using Microsoft Azure and OpenAI credits. The program is part of a collaboration between Microsoft, OpenAI, and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which aims to promote local media.

"While nothing will replace the central role of reporters, we believe that AI technology can help in the research, investigation, distribution, and monetization of important journalism," Tom Rubin, the chief of intellectual property and content at OpenAI, said in the press release.

Microsoft and OpenAI will provide grants to three more media organizations at a later date. Some AI applications that the outlets will explore include leveraging the technology for, transcription, content summaries, and creating a "conversational" search tool for archives.