Google, AP Partner to Enhance Gemini AI with Real-Time News

Google has entered into its first deal with the Associated Press (AP), which will provide Google with a stream of up-to-date news content to enhance the functionality of its AI chatbot Gemini.

"We are pleased Google recognizes the value of AP’s journalism as well as our commitment to nonpartisan reporting, in the development of its generative AI products,” says Kristin Heitmann, Chief Revenue Officer, AP.

The collaboration between Google and AP highlights a growing trend where AI companies seek high-quality, reliable sources of data to enhance the capabilities of their generative AI tools. Gemini, formerly known as Bard, aims to address the demand for AI-driven solutions capable of composing text, generating images, and assisting with programming tasks. 

The move also reflects a broader industry shift toward monetizing AI-generated content, a process that includes licensing data from media outlets. However, this arrangement is not without its concerns, especially regarding the balance between tech companies using public data for AI training and the potential impact on news publishers' revenue streams. According to an AP press release, publishers have been exploring alternative revenue models after experiencing significant losses in traditional revenue sources, such as subscriptions and syndication deals with newspapers.

The deal between Google and AP marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discussions surrounding the intersection of AI and journalism. While the specifics of the financial arrangement remain undisclosed, the partnership reflects a growing recognition of the value that news organizations bring to the development of advanced AI models. By providing real-time news content, AP contributes to enhancing Gemini's performance, making it more effective at delivering timely and accurate information, says the company.

In 2023, the AP signed a similar agreement with OpenAI to license its archive of news stories. That deal allowed OpenAI to use AP's content to train its models, such as those powering ChatGPT. These agreements are part of a broader industry trend where AI companies seek out established, high-quality data sources to improve the accuracy and reliability of their products.

These partnerships have sparked debate within the media industry. Some publishers have expressed concern about the loss of control over how their content is used, fearing that tech companies may commodify their journalism without providing adequate compensation. This concern is especially pronounced in the wake of lawsuits filed by media outlets like The New York Times against OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement. These legal battles, previously reported by MBN, highlight the tension between the need for access to data to fuel AI advances and the rights of content creators to protect and monetize their work.

For news organizations, the appeal of partnering with AI companies lies in the potential for new revenue streams. AP, for example, has seen its revenue from traditional newspaper customers decline significantly in recent years. In response, the organization has sought out alternative sources of income, including philanthropic funding. The deal with Google, as Alex Mahadevan, Director of MediaWise, Poynter Institute points out, presents an opportunity for AP to generate revenue through licensing agreements while continuing to provide high-quality journalism to its audience.

However, some experts caution that these partnerships could have long-term implications for the media landscape. Sarah Kreps, Director of Tech Policy Institute, Cornell University, warns that news organizations might risk losing control over how their work is used and monetized by outsourcing valuable content to tech companies. 

"Instead of building stronger, direct relationships with readers, they risk becoming suppliers of raw material for platforms that then commodify and repurpose their journalism," Kreps tells AP News.