Google Plans to Pay News Outlets for AI Content Licensing Project

Google plans to pay news outlets to use their content in AI tools as part of a new project. The pilot program includes 20 national news outlets and aims to support publishers amid concerns over AI features reducing web traffic. Google confirmed exploring new partnerships and features but didn't provide details. Analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on GOOGL stock with an average price target of $206.51.

In a move to strengthen ties with the media industry, Google is reportedly exploring a new licensing project aimed at paying news outlets to use their content in AI tools. The pilot program, which is expected to include around 20 national news organizations, is part of Google's broader strategy to experiment with new types of partnerships and product experiences. This initiative comes amid growing concerns from publishers that AI features, such as Google's AI Overviews, are reducing web traffic and potentially impacting their revenue.

The tech giant has confirmed that it is exploring new partnerships and features but has not provided specific details about the licensing project. This development follows similar moves by AI startups like OpenAI and Perplexity AI, which have already struck licensing deals with major publishers to use their content in chatbots and AI models. For instance, OpenAI has partnered with publishers like Hearst, Condé Nast, and News Corp. to provide content for its AI tools.

Google's decision to pay for content could be a significant win for struggling media companies, which have lost readers and advertisers to digital outlets for years. The licensing project is tailored to specific products, but the exact terms and conditions remain unspecified. Google's spokesperson stated that the company is exploring and experimenting with new types of partnerships but did not share specific plans or conversations at this time.

The media industry has been divided on how to navigate the use of their content for AI training. Some publishers have accused companies of copyright infringement, while others have opted to license their content to AI companies. The New York Times is currently in a lawsuit with OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the startup used copyrighted articles to train its ChatGPT chatbot.

The pilot project by Google is seen as a step towards a more collaborative relationship between tech companies and publishers. As the generative AI boom continues to reshape the digital media landscape, Google's influence on the future of online publishing could be substantial.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-22/google-seeks-licensing-talks-with-news-groups-following-ai-rivals
[2] https://mashable.com/article/google-ai-licensing-deals-news-publishers
[3] https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/google-wants-to-recruit-news-outlets-for-ai-licensing-project/