According to Bloomberg, Alphabet Inc.'s Google is in discussion with several news organizations as part of a new licensing initiative focusing on artificial intelligence (AI).
The move shows Google's intention to repair its vulnerable relationship with the media industry. This is becoming increasingly wary of the ways high-tech companies use content to power AI tools.
The pilot project initially includes around 20 national news outlets, according to sources familiar with the development. The goal is to allow Google to license news content to be used in AI-driven products, such as chatbots and AI-generated summaries, the report added.
According to the report, a Google spokesperson confirmed that the company is “exploring and experimenting with new types of partnerships and product experiences,” but refused to provide details about current plans or negotiations.
If successful, this initiative could be a significant revenue stream for readers and news outlets struggling financially due to declines in the digital age and advertising. AI has introduced a new layer of concern for publishers as tools like chatbots and automated summaries will separate traffic from the original news website.
Startups such as Perplexity AI and Openai have already begun similar licensing efforts, recognizing the value of high-quality news content in training AI systems. Google's efforts seem to respond to growing pressure from the media industry to make sure their work is significantly compensated for content creators who burn generative AI.
The key point of the competition is Google's AI overview feature, which often generates a concise summary that is highly ranked in search results, the report added. Publishers claim that these summaries divert traffic, but are reluctant to block content due to fear of reduced visibility on Google's platform.
Google previously introduced programs such as Google News Showcase to pay publishers while supporting legal boundaries for fair use. However, many industry stakeholders argue that such efforts are insufficient to address the broader risks posed by AI, the report added.
In an earlier step this year, Google partnered with the Associated Press to license Gemini Chatbot news, marking the first major deal of AI-specific content. Part of Google's broader AI portfolio, Gemini is expected to play a central role in the company's future content and product strategy.
The wider landscape is characterized by legal conflict. In particular, the New York Times filed a lawsuit against Openai and its leading investor Microsoft in late 2023, accusing them of using copyrighted materials to train AI systems without permission.
With a more measured approach, Google appears to be actively seeking license agreements to avoid similar legal pitfalls and maintain a friendly relationship with news providers.
