Meta Inks AI Deals with CNN, Fox News, and USA Today
▼ Summary
– Meta has partnered with several news outlets, including CNN and Fox News, to have its AI chatbot use their content for responses.
– This move occurs amid ongoing lawsuits from publishers, like The New York Times, against AI companies for allegedly stealing content.
– Meta states these partnerships will enhance its AI’s ability to provide timely, relevant information from diverse viewpoints.
– The company has also secured deals with conservative outlets and international media groups as part of this strategy.
– This shift follows Meta’s previous retreat from news, including ending deals with major publishers and removing news content in certain regions like Canada.
Meta has secured new licensing agreements with several major media organizations, including CNN, Fox News, and USA Today, to incorporate their content into its AI chatbot’s responses. This strategic move aims to enhance the chatbot’s ability to provide users with current, relevant, and diverse information directly within Meta’s platforms. The partnerships represent a significant shift in how the social media giant is sourcing material for its artificial intelligence systems, opting for formal deals rather than relying on web-scraped content.
The announcement arrives amid a growing wave of legal challenges from publishers against AI firms accused of improperly using copyrighted news material. Just this week, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against AI startup Perplexity, seeking to halt the use of its articles. Meta’s proactive approach to securing licenses appears designed to preempt similar disputes and establish a more sustainable model for accessing high-quality journalism.
According to Meta, these collaborations will “improve Meta AI’s ability to deliver timely and relevant content and information with a wide variety of viewpoints and content types.” The company has also finalized agreements with other outlets, such as the conservative publications The Daily Caller and The Washington Examiner, as well as the French media group Le Monde. This broad spectrum of sources is intended to give the AI a wide range of perspectives to draw from when answering user queries.
This pivot toward licensed content marks a notable reversal for Meta. The company had previously scaled back its investments in news, shutting down the dedicated News tab on Facebook and withdrawing from licensing negotiations with other major publishers. Furthermore, Meta removed news content from Facebook and Instagram in Canada last year following the passage of legislation that would have required it to compensate publishers. The new AI-focused deals suggest a recalibrated strategy where paying for specific, structured content access is now seen as a necessary investment for its AI ambitions.
For the involved media companies, these agreements offer a new revenue stream and a way to ensure their reporting reaches a vast audience through a popular interface. It also provides them with a measure of control over how their journalism is presented by AI systems, a concern for many in the industry. The financial terms of the individual partnerships have not been publicly disclosed.
The development is being closely watched across the media and technology sectors, as it could set a precedent for how other AI companies engage with content creators. While the approach may help mitigate legal risks, it also raises questions about the long-term economics of such deals and their impact on the broader information ecosystem.
(Source: The Verge)
