Financial Times introduces new artificial intelligence chatbot Ask FT

Financial Times (FT) has launched a new AI-based chatbot, Ask FT, which provides natural language answers to a variety of questions from its subscribers. This innovation means users will be able to get answers derived from decades of published information from the FT. For example, current questions such as who manages Microsoft’s artificial intelligence products can be answered based on information pulled from the FT’s archive.

Quick access to information with artificial intelligence

Ask FT; Similar to general AI bots like Copilot or Gemini, ChatGPT offers natural language, curated answers to any questions from users. But Ask FT’s answers come from the FT’s decades-old archive of publications, rather than sources that are difficult to disclose or are the subject of ongoing legal action. This ensures that the FT’s AI chatbot only provides users with verified and reliable information.

In particular, Microsoft’s ability to provide up-to-date and referenced answers to questions about who manages its artificial intelligence products can be considered an indicator of how current and accurate information Ask FT can provide. Microsoft AI is headed by Mustafa Suleyman, who was brought in from Inflection AI to expand Microsoft’s focus on developing general AI for personal consumer use. Suleyman leads Microsoft’s consumer AI products and division, reporting directly to Satya Nadella.

Ask FT is a service offered only to FT Professional package subscribers and is designed for business professionals and institutions. Currently powered by Claude, a large language model developed by Anthropic, Ask FT allows users to learn about current events and wide-ranging questions. By summarizing relevant information from the FT’s archives and presenting it with quotations, it enables users to access information quickly and reliably.

In an interview with FT’s product manager Lindsey Jayne, it is stated that this initiative is part of FT’s effort to always be innovative and adapt to technology. Jayne emphasizes that, as a 135-year-old institution, the FT emphasizes the importance of approaching technological innovation intelligently and not just jumping on the innovation bandwagon. Ask FT emerges as proof that FT is an institution that is constantly evolving and adapting to these new eras.