Apple has opened negotiations with major news and publishing organizations, seeking permission to use their material in the company’s development of generative artificial intelligence systems. It has floated multi-year licensing deals worth at least $50 million to license news article archives. The negotiations indicate Apple’s efforts to catch up with rivals in the race to develop generative AI. Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Meta, and other companies have already released chatbots and products built with this technology. Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, has remained stagnant since its release. Some publishers were hesitant about Apple’s terms, but others saw potential for a meaningful partnership. Apple has debated how to accumulate the data needed to build AI products and has been cautious due to privacy concerns. The rise of generative AI has raised concerns among news executives, who worry about losing readers to AI platforms. OpenAI stated its respect for content creators and its commitment to finding mutually beneficial ways to support the news ecosystem.
