AI companies face criticism for using news content without permission. A.G. Sulzberger urges publishers to defend their rights. The future of original reporting may depend on industry action.
News publishers are being urged to take a stronger stand as AI companies use journalistic content without authorization or compensation, raising concerns about the sustainability of original reporting. At WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in June, A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, warned that major technology firms are violating established legal protections and undermining the business models that support quality journalism.
Sulzberger highlighted that tech giants extract content from news sites, repackage it, and present it as their own, often without credit or payment. He argued that the news industry has been too passive and fragmented in responding to these practices, which he described as abuses by leading AI companies. According to Sulzberger, the lack of resources among most news organizations makes it difficult to enforce their rights through legal action.
He also pointed to the growing dominance of platforms like Google and Meta, noting that Google increasingly answers user questions directly using content from publishers, while Meta generates ad revenue far exceeding that of all newspapers combined. Sulzberger cited research showing that most publishers expect little to no significant income from AI platforms, and warned that AI systems often present information with unwarranted confidence, even when incorrect.
Concerns about misinformation are widespread, with Sulzberger referencing Pew Research Center data indicating that two-thirds of Americans are highly concerned about AI spreading inaccurate information. He also noted that the decline of local news organizations can erode community trust and increase polarization.
Despite these challenges, Sulzberger expressed confidence in the value of original reporting and called for the defense of intellectual property rights as essential for the future of journalism. He emphasized that the actions of AI companies, not the technology itself, require reform. Sulzberger encouraged publishers to create journalism so distinctive that it remains essential even as AI intermediates more of the online experience.
Similar concerns have been raised in other regions, as seen when major German publishers restricted AI bots from accessing their content, a move that could affect visibility and traffic strategies. For more on how publishers are responding to AI, see this report on German news sites blocking AI crawlers.
