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Google partners with AP to provide real-time news via its Gemini AI chatbot

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Google has announced a partnership with The Associated Press (AP) to enhance its AI chatbot, Gemini, with real-time news updates. This collaboration marks Google’s first arrangement with a news organization, as stated in a blog post on Wednesday. The deal aims to integrate a stream of current news into the Gemini app, thereby increasing its capability to deliver timely and relevant information to users.

AP’s Chief Revenue Officer, Kristin Heitmann, commented on the long-standing relationship with Google, emphasizing the shared goal of providing accurate news to audiences worldwide. She expressed satisfaction that Google acknowledges the significance of AP’s journalism along with its dedication to impartial reporting in the development of AI tools.

The financial details regarding Google’s payment to AP for the content have not been disclosed. Furthermore, Google has refrained from offering additional insights into how it plans to feature AP’s news within Gemini, particularly concerning whether it will properly credit the organization or provide links to original articles.

Gemini, previously known as Bard, serves as Google’s response to the growing demand for generative AI applications. These tools are capable of drafting documents, generating imagery, assisting in programming, and more. AP has been diversifying its revenue channels in recent years and entered a similar agreement with OpenAI in 2023, granting the company access to its extensive archive for future AI training. Financial details from this agreement were also kept confidential, though it has sparked a wave of partnerships between OpenAI and various news outlets globally.

At the same time, concerns persist among news organizations about AI firms using their content without authorization or compensation, potentially undermining their advertising income. Some publishers, including The New York Times, have launched legal actions against AI corporations for copyright violations, presenting their cases in a New York federal court recently.

Tech companies defend their practices by arguing that utilizing publicly available internet content for AI training falls under “fair use” according to U.S. copyright laws. In light of legal challenges and the potential for generating inaccurate information—often referred to as “hallucinations”—these AI firms are seeking higher-quality data sources to enhance their products’ effectiveness.

Publishers may find themselves at a disadvantage as tech companies utilize AI-driven content summaries in various platforms, yet these collaborations can also provide essential revenue for news organizations while improving the quality of information accessible online. Alex Mahadevan, director at The Poynter Institute’s Mediawise, points out that news outlets face a choice between partnering with AI firms or contesting these practices in court, as seen with The New York Times.

The AP aims to maintain its role as a neutral news source, delivering news articles, images, videos, audio, and interactive content directly to consumers via its platform, APNews.com. However, a significant portion of its revenue depends on providing journalism to businesses that utilize its content.

In light of a substantial decline in revenue from traditional newspaper clients, including the loss of substantial contracts with Gannett and McClatchy, the AP is seeking alternative funding solutions, including donations, although it continues to be affected by the broader struggles within the news sector.

As Sarah Kreps, a professor at Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute, notes, the AP possesses valuable data and text, which are critical for training sophisticated generative AI models. While such agreements may help mitigate some financial downturns, they come with risks. Kreps warns that by handing over their valuable content to tech firms, news outlets might lose control over the usage and monetization of their work, potentially turning into mere suppliers of material for platforms that exploit and repurpose their journalism.

@USLive

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