Apple Negotiates Usage-Based Licensing Deals with News Publishers for AI Siri

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is currently negotiating with news publishers to secure licenses for their content to enhance its AI-driven Siri voice assistant. These potential multiyear contracts would feature payments based on usage, moving away from the typical fixed fee structure in the industry. Apple is considering a budget that could reach nine figures for these payments. The revamped Siri is anticipated to debut later this year, although Apple has chosen not to provide any comments. This initiative is part of Apple's ongoing efforts in publisher collaborations, which began with the launch of Apple News+ in 2019. As publishers contemplate legal action against AI firms, The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged unauthorized content use, while News Corp and Axel Springer have formed agreements with OpenAI. Apple's AI-generated news summaries, which were introduced in late 2024, were retracted due to inaccuracies in the headlines. Notably, News Corp, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, already maintains a commercial relationship with Apple.