Apple plans to benefit from the content of online publishers so that the new Siri, whose artificial intelligence features are strengthened, can answer questions about current events and various topics. According to a new report, the company is considering making direct licensing agreements with media organizations, and it is stated that the value of some agreements can reach up to nine figures. In the model that Apple is considering, instead of paying a fixed license fee to publishers, it is envisaged that they will be paid if their content is actually used by Siri. Thus, the fee publishers receive may vary depending on the use of their content in Apple’s artificial intelligence service. This approach can give Siri access to a larger pool of content, especially to provide more comprehensive answers about current developments.
The news reports that Apple proposes a variable pricing model to publishers. Accordingly, payment will not be made unless the content of a publisher that has an agreement with Apple is used in the response created by Siri. If the content is used, the relevant publisher will earn income from this use. The details of the model and how content usage will be measured are not yet clear. However, the usage-based system brings a different approach to the licensing issue, which has been increasingly discussed between artificial intelligence companies and content producers in recent years. From the perspective of publishers, such a structure could enable the extent to which their content is evaluated in artificial intelligence services to be more directly associated with revenue.
Apple may expand content deals with publishers for Siri
Apple’s reason for reaching agreements with publishers in advance is not just because Siri has access to more information sources. How AI companies use copyrighted news and internet content has become one of the most prominent points of contention between the technology and media sectors. Some publishers have taken legal action against companies such as OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly using their content in artificial intelligence models or related services without permission. Apple’s licensing of content before use may reduce the likelihood of encountering similar copyright disputes. However, details such as the scope of the agreements to be made, how Siri will show the sources to the user and whether it will redirect to publishers will determine how attractive the model will be for media organizations.
On the other hand, not all publishers prefer to face artificial intelligence companies in court. While some media organizations choose to directly generate revenue by licensing their content, artificial intelligence providers also gain legal access to up-to-date and professionally prepared content. Considering the uncertainty created by lengthy litigation, licensing agreements can offer an alternative source of income for publishers. However, this model also raises other questions, such as how much traffic news sites will receive from artificial intelligence services and the less likely users will go to the actual content source. Therefore, in addition to the payment amount, source attribution and link policies may also be decisive in the negotiations between publishers and technology companies.
Establishing commercial relationships with publishers is not a new practice for Apple. The company currently offers content from newspapers, magazines and other publishing companies to its subscribers within the scope of Apple News +, and in return, shares revenue with publishers. In addition, it was reported that Apple had previously made agreements with some publishers regarding the rights to use their content in training artificial intelligence models. The system proposed for Siri draws attention in that, unlike training data, it can include the use of content in answers to users’ current questions. Such a distinction could directly impact both the way it charges and what content Apple can access and when.
Apple’s plan also appears to be linked to efforts to strengthen Siri’s position in the artificial intelligence field. When it comes to questions about current events, pre-trained models alone may not be enough; systems need access to newly published information from reliable sources. Direct licensing relationships with publishers may allow Apple to use such content under specified conditions. On the other hand, it is not yet known how much revenue the usage-based payment model will generate for publishers, which organizations Apple will agree with, and how resources will be presented in Siri’s answers. If the plan is implemented, Apple will have chosen to carry out the licensing issue with content owners on pre-defined commercial terms while increasing the up-to-dateness of artificial intelligence-supported Siri.
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