Apple is actively seeking collaborations with prominent publishers to use their news content for training generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The tech giant has approached several key players, including Condé Nast and NBC News, proposing multiyear agreements potentially worth over $50 million. This initiative aims to license vast archives of news articles, offering a rich data source for AI development.
Condé Nast’s diverse portfolio includes well-known titles such as Vogue, Wired, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, while IAC’s holdings feature People, The Spruce, and Entertainment Weekly. These varied sources could provide Apple with a broad range of information to enhance its AI capabilities.
However, the reception to Apple’s proposal has been mixed among publishers. Some are hesitant, finding Apple’s terms overly broad and lacking clarity on the specific application of AI to news content. On the other hand, certain publishers are optimistic, appreciating that Apple has formally requested to use their content instead of adopting the more controversial approach of unsanctioned training on published news, as seen with other AI companies.
Amidst the competition from tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta, who have already integrated generative AI into their products, Apple is striving to catch up. The company is internally testing an “AppleGPT” chatbot and planning new AI features for iOS 18, suggesting a significant shift towards AI integration in its offerings. Apple’s approach differs notably, emphasizing privacy and accuracy by sourcing data from reputable news outlets rather than broad Internet scraping.
This strategy, while addressing the challenges of copyright and data accuracy, also aligns with Apple’s privacy-focused philosophy. The potential inclusion of AI features across Apple apps, including Apple News, underscores the company’s ambition to leverage tailored AI models for enhanced user experiences.
Apple’s internal debates on data acquisition for AI products further highlight its careful consideration of privacy and quality in its AI endeavors.