How Time magazine vets AI tools with a strict data ownership framework

Time is meticulously evaluating AI tools through a clear framework that prioritizes data ownership, legal protections, and company stability before adoption. This strategic approach, led by CTO Burhan Hamid, balances risk assessment with innovation, protecting Time’s intellectual property while preparing employees for an AI-augmented future where understanding these tools becomes essential for job security rather than a threat to it.

The big picture: Time has examined “dozens and dozens” of AI tools to identify suitable options for both internal efficiency and customer-facing products, applying strict evaluation criteria throughout the process.

• Any AI tool that uses Time’s data to train its models is immediately disqualified, a policy designed to protect the publisher’s confidential information.
• The company requires legal review of data protections and indemnification agreements before adopting new AI technologies.

The vetting process: When evaluating AI vendors, Time’s leadership conducts comprehensive assessments extending beyond the technology itself.

• Hamid personally seeks to meet with AI companies’ founders to determine if they have sustainable business models and established customer bases.
• The publisher balances risk assessment with speed of adoption, recognizing that excessive caution could leave them behind in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Employee adoption challenges: Time faces workforce hesitation similar to other publishers implementing AI technologies.

• Hamid acknowledges employee concerns about job security as “legitimate” but emphasizes that it’s not the tools themselves that threaten positions but rather colleagues who master these tools.
• The company has successfully implemented Glean, an enterprise search tool connecting data across platforms, with one-third of employees actively using it since its January launch.

Future directions: Time is focusing on expanding AI capabilities within its digital products after successful early experiments.

• The company plans to extend components of its AI chat bar, originally created for its “Person of the Year” announcement using OpenAI‘s ChatGPT, across its website.
• Potential applications include article summarization and translation services, with Hamid noting that “the potential for AI starts after the article has been published.”