The Washington Post has decided to collaborate instead of going to court. It’s now an official partner of OpenAI, which means that ChatGPT will start including summaries, quotes, and direct links to Post articles.
It’s a significant move, especially as other publishers—like The New York Times—are suing OpenAI for using their content in training AI systems. The Post is taking the opposite approach: opting in, choosing to be part of a tool used by millions of people every day.
This isn’t a romantic gesture. It’s a strategic decision. The visibility that ChatGPT can offer is massive. And the Post is betting that reaching a broader audience with verified journalism will ultimately be to their benefit.
For OpenAI, this is another step toward building a system filled with trustworthy content—not just to improve the quality of its responses, but to set itself apart from platforms that rely on less credible sources. Meanwhile, those who refuse to collaborate risk being left out of an ecosystem that’s already taking shape.
The Washington Post isn’t new to AI. It has already experimented with tools like Ask The Post AI and Climate Answers. So today’s move is consistent with the direction they’ve been heading.
Time will tell how many other publishers decide to follow this path. For now, another piece has fallen into place.
