Alexander Lewis 
Dec 23, 2023
Apple is reportedly in discussions with prominent news publishers to secure licenses for their extensive news archives, intending to utilise this information to enhance its generative AI systems.
The New York Times reveals that Apple is contemplating "multiyear deals worth at least $50 million" and has initiated conversations with notable publications such as Condé Nast, NBC News, and IAC.
Apple News Archives licensing: Mixed reactions from publishers
The response from news publishers varies, with concerns raised about potential legal responsibilities stemming from Apple's utilisation of their content. The New York Times suggests that publishers might be "potentially on the hook" for legal liabilities.
Apple's plans for news and generative AI have been described as "vague," contributing to uncertainty among publishers. However, some news executives reportedly express a more positive outlook on the prospect of collaborating with Apple.
Apple's intensified AI pursuit
While Apple's recent artificial intelligence endeavours may not have garnered as much attention as those of rivals like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, the company is actively working to narrow the gap.
Reportedly allocating "millions of dollars a day" to AI, Apple has released a machine learning framework optimised for Apple Silicon. The company is also focused on enhancing the performance of large language models (LLMs) on mobile devices.
Recent reports suggest Apple is developing an enhanced version of Siri and planning AI-centric features for the upcoming major iOS release.
