TOKYO -- In response to a letter of protest sent by The Mainichi Newspapers Co., U.S.-based generative AI company Perplexity AI Inc. said it is "confused and regretful that concerns have been raised."

Perplexity AI replied on Dec. 2 Japan time to the letter that The Mainichi Newspapers had sent the previous day, which accused the company of using articles without permission in the generative AI search service it operates.

The Mainichi Newspapers argues that displaying responses generated from articles obtained without permission constitutes copyright infringement. The Mainichi Newspapers demanded that Perplexity AI immediately halt the unauthorized use of its content. It is also seeking the deletion of data that Perplexity AI previously reproduced, as well as compensation, on the grounds that allowing "free-riding" on articles could undermine the business model of news organizations, ultimately threatening the foundations of democracy.

Perplexity AI commented that it will "confirm the facts and provide a full response in good faith." The company also said that millions of questions are submitted from Japan every day and claimed that it is successfully meeting the intellectual curiosity of Japanese users and their right to correctly understand information.

(Mainichi)