NYT Opinion episode calls for AI industry to follow normal rules

In short: A New York Times Opinion episode argues the AI industry should stop getting special treatment and be regulated like other industries.

What happened

The New York Times published an episode of its Opinion video series called “The Wild West of A.I. Needs to End. Here’s How.” on September 24, 2026. In the episode, editorial board writer Binyamin Appelbaum says AI companies should be subject to the usual legal and social obligations.

Appelbaum’s argument has three main parts. First, he says today’s AI systems were built using huge amounts of copyrighted work and other intellectual property. Intellectual property is work that belongs to someone, like articles, books, photos, music, and code. He describes this training process as “stealing,” but this is his opinion, not a court finding.

Second, he argues that Silicon Valley has benefited from “regulatory exceptionalism,” meaning it has often been treated as if normal rules do not apply. He says this has created a sense of immunity from responsibility.

Third, he calls for regulation, which means enforceable rules backed by government, the way other industries face rules for safety, consumer protection, and competition. The episode uses a “Wild West” metaphor, meaning things moved fast before clear oversight, like a town growing before it has police and courts.

The episode also sits alongside a real legal fight. The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement, and both companies deny the claims. A key open question is whether copying material to train AI can be allowed under “fair use” (a legal idea that sometimes allows limited copying without permission).

Why it matters

If lawmakers and courts move toward Appelbaum’s view, AI tools people use at work and at home could face clearer rules on what data they can learn from, who is responsible when harm happens, and whether creators get paid.

Source: NYTimes