AI Matters
Why it matters
Oxford lets OpenAI train on its historic Bodleian Library texts
The Guardian AI Oxford lets OpenAI train its AI models on Bodleian Library
The University of Oxford allowed OpenAI to train its models on historical texts from the Bodleian Library, prompting staff concerns.
Why it matters
Universities are now trading rare historical archives to AI companies, raising questions about who benefits from that data.
Latest brief · Oct 19, 2026