Google Partners with Publishers: The Growing Attention on AI-Generated News Content

Recently, Google has been collaborating secretly with several publishers to create news content using new generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These agreements, worth tens of thousands of dollars annually, are part of the Google News Initiative (GNI). This initiative aims to provide resources like media literacy programs and fact-checking tools for news organizations, but the use of generative AI for content creation could spark controversy.

Reports indicate that the program currently targets a select group of smaller publishers, testing how these resource-strapped organizations can more efficiently produce aggregated content. The approach involves indexing recent reports from other organizations, such as government agencies and neighboring media outlets, summarizing them, and publishing them as new articles. While the exact compensation for participating publishers is unclear, it is claimed to be in the five-figure range each year. In return, media organizations are required to publish at least three articles daily, a weekly newsletter, and a monthly marketing campaign using these tools.

Publishers involved in the program do not have to disclose their use of AI, and the websites providing aggregated content are not informed that their materials are being used to generate AI-produced news articles. Technically, AI-generated text employs a color-coding system to indicate the reliability of various text sections, aiding human editors in their review process.

Google stated to Adweek that they are in an "exploration phase," aiming to provide AI tools that support journalists, while emphasizing that these tools are not designed to replace the essential roles journalists play in reporting, writing, and fact-checking stories.

Although Google's intentions remain somewhat opaque, they are not the first tech company to pay news organizations for using their tools. This model bears similarity to Facebook's agreements with publishers in 2016, when the social media giant invested millions to promote its new video platform by funding the creation of live video content.