The New York Times has signed its first AI content licensing agreement with Amazon. The multi-year deal allows Amazon to use Times editorial content, including NYT Cooking and The Athletic, across AI services. Summaries and excerpts will appear in Amazon products like Alexa. Amazon will also use the content to train proprietary AI models. The Times says the deal expands its existing partnership with Amazon. “This broadens our relationship and brings Times journalism to wider audiences,” the publisher said. Financial terms remain undisclosed. Amazon declined to comment on the agreement.
What the Deal Includes and Why It Matters
Under the agreement, Amazon will feature New York Times content in various customer-facing AI experiences. The deal includes news articles, recipes, and sports content from NYT Cooking and The Athletic. Amazon will use this licensed material to improve Alexa and train its in-house AI models. The partnership aims to reach new readers and increase engagement with Times content on Amazon platforms. The Times emphasized that this move helps expand its journalism’s reach while maintaining control over how it’s used.“This deal provides more value for Amazon customers and helps distribute our work more widely,” the publisher said.
Licensing arrangements like this help offset declining ad revenue and combat AI misuse of journalistic content. The Times joins other media firms seeking fair compensation for the use of their articles in AI models. As AI tools increasingly rely on online content for training, partnerships like this may shape industry norms. Though the deal’s value remains undisclosed, it reflects the growing monetization of news content in the AI era. It also shows Amazon’s push to enhance its AI with credible, high-quality editorial content. Such collaborations can redefine how consumers interact with trusted news sources in AI-powered platforms.
A Contrast with the Times’ Lawsuit Against OpenAI
While partnering with Amazon, the Times is still suing OpenAI and Microsoft over copyright infringement. Filed in 2023, the lawsuit accuses the firms of using millions of Times articles to train chatbots without permission. The newspaper claims OpenAI’s ChatGPT was trained on its content, which violates copyright and undermines its business model. This dual-track approach, litigation with some tech firms and licensing with others, signals a broader strategy shift. The lawsuit reflects concerns that AI tools replicate journalistic work without compensation. Publishers fear that AI-generated summaries could replace direct visits to news sites, reducing traffic and ad revenue.
In contrast, the Amazon agreement gives the Times control and financial benefit from how content is used. It also positions Amazon as a more cooperative player in the AI news ecosystem. OpenAI, meanwhile, has faced multiple lawsuits from authors and publishers over unauthorized data scraping. Despite ongoing legal battles, OpenAI has signed several licensing deals with media outlets to legitimize its training methods. The Times’ legal and commercial moves illustrate how major publishers are negotiating their place in the AI economy. It’s no longer just about resisting AI; it’s about reshaping it on publishers’ terms.
What This Signals for the Future of News and AI
The New York Times-Amazon deal may set a precedent for ethical AI use in journalism. It shows that major media can monetize their work while shaping how AI platforms access and display content. As AI tools grow in influence, news publishers are demanding control over their content’s use. This deal gives the Times a revenue stream and broader reach. It also signals that partnerships, not just lawsuits, will define journalism’s future with AI. As more deals emerge, the industry may shift toward licensed, curated AI content, reshaping how people engage with the news.
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