Oxford gives OpenAI 125,000 Bodleian thesis scans to train AI models
Summary
Oxford gives OpenAI 125,000 scanned 19th- and 20th-century PhD theses from the Bodleian Library to train AI models, despite staff concerns over reputational risk and AI energy use; the out-of-copyright files are due online within months.
Key Points
- Oxford lets OpenAI use Bodleian Library texts to train AI models, according to internal papers obtained by the Guardian.
- By June 2025, the Bodleian sends OpenAI 125,000 scans of 19th- and 20th-century PhD theses from European and US universities.
- Staff meeting notes raise reputational and AI-energy concerns; Oxford says the out-of-copyright scans are nonexclusive and will be posted online within months.