Google is quietly launching a new AI licensing project with approximately 20 major national news outlets, aiming to compensate publishers for the content used by its AI systems over the years. This initiative is seen as an attempt to repair Google’s strained relationships with news organizations, which have criticized tech companies for using their content without adequate recompense, particularly in AI-generated features like Google’s AI Overviews.
While details remain scarce, Google has confirmed it is “experimenting and exploring” new partnerships and AI-driven products but has not disclosed specific terms or revenue arrangements. The licensing project is reportedly focused on certain AI-related products, potentially including chatbots and AI-generated news summaries that draw on publisher content to provide quick answers without requiring users to visit the original articles.
The move follows growing industry pressure and precedent set by AI rivals such as OpenAI and Perplexity AI, who have already begun compensating publishers for training data. Google’s recent deals have been limited, involving partnerships with the Associated Press and Reddit, while its AI Overviews have come under scrutiny for reducing web traffic to news sites.
This project arrives amid increasing regulatory and legal challenges worldwide, with the European Union filing antitrust complaints against Google’s AI content use and UK publishers demanding opt-out options to protect their content. If successful, Google’s licensing initiative could establish a critical new revenue stream for news organizations facing financial hardships due to declining advertising and readership.
Google’s spokesperson reiterated the company’s intent to explore new types of partnerships and product experiences but declined to share further specifics, signaling the project is in its early stages but marks a significant shift toward formally recognizing and compensating news publishers for their content in AI development.