In recent weeks, Apple has entered negotiations with major news and publishing organizations, seeking permission to use their content for the development of generative artificial intelligence (A.I.) systems. The tech giant has proposed multiyear deals, each worth at least $50 million, to license news archives for this purpose. The companies approached by Apple include Condé Nast, NBC News, and IAC, which owns People, The Daily Beast, and Better Homes and Gardens. This move marks Apple’s entry into the race to develop generative A.I., a technology that allows computers to create images and chat like humans, a domain where competitors like Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and Meta have already made strides.
Apple’s negotiation pitch has faced some resistance from publishers who find the terms too expansive. Concerns have been raised about the broad licensing of publishers’ archives, with potential legal liabilities falling on the publishers for Apple’s use of their content. Apple’s intentions regarding the application of generative A.I. to the news industry were reportedly vague, posing a competitive risk. However, some executives are optimistic about a potential partnership, appreciating Apple’s approach of seeking permission compared to other A.I.-enabled companies accused of securing licensing deals after using content to train generative models. Apple’s foray into generative A.I. reflects its efforts to accumulate data while navigating privacy concerns, a departure from rivals accused of using internet content without permission.
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