Google is reportedly initiating a licensing project to collaborate with news organisations on artificial intelligence. The company plans to launch a pilot programme involving approximately 20 national news outlets. This move suggests Google aims to improve its relationship with the news industry.
The project echoes similar strategies adopted by companies like OpenAI and Perplexity, which have already established licensing agreements with major publishers. Google's initiative follows concerns from news publishers about declining traffic due to AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews. These tools often provide information directly on search pages, reducing the need for users to click through to news websites.
Google has previously invested in news partnerships, including a $1 billion investment in 2020 and a recent deal with The Associated Press to enhance real-time information in its Gemini app. This new licensing project indicates a continued effort to integrate news content into its AI offerings while addressing publisher concerns about revenue and traffic.