Google Partners with AP for Real-Time News via Gemini AI Chatbot

On January 15, 2025, Google announced a new agreement with The Associated Press (AP) to enhance its Gemini AI chatbot by incorporating real-time news updates. This marks Google's first deal of this kind with a news publisher.

In a blog post, Google described how AP would supply a continuous flow of current news information aimed at improving the relevance and effectiveness of the results shown in the Gemini application.

Kristin Heitmann, the Chief Revenue Officer at AP, highlighted that this partnership stems from a long-standing relationship with Google, which has focused on delivering accurate news and information to audiences worldwide. She expressed satisfaction at Google acknowledging the significance of AP's journalism and their commitment to unbiased reporting in the creation of its generative AI tools.

Details regarding the financial aspects of the agreement have not been disclosed, including how Google plans to display AP's content or whether it will link back to AP's original articles.

Gemini, previously known as Bard, represents Google's response to the rising demand for generative AI capabilities that include text composition, image generation, and coding assistance.

In recent years, AP has aimed to diversify its revenue sources. In 2023, the organization entered into an agreement with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, allowing OpenAI to license AP’s archives to train future AI models. Financial terms of this previous contract also remain undisclosed, reflecting a growing trend of similar collaborations between OpenAI and news organizations globally.

Despite these initiatives, concerns persist among news companies about AI firms utilizing their content without adequate compensation, leading to unfair competition for ad revenue. Some outlets, like The New York Times, have taken legal action against AI companies for copyright infringement, defending their rights in court.

Tech firms argue that using publicly available text from the internet to train AI models is a form of 'fair use' according to U.S. copyright laws. However, amidst ongoing legal disputes and the challenges posed by inaccuracies in AI outputs, businesses are increasingly interested in licensing reliable data to enhance their products.

While publishers often find themselves at a disadvantage as tech companies incorporate AI-generated summaries, collaborations like the one between Google and AP can provide essential financial support to news organizations and help improve the overall information quality available online, according to Alex Mahadevan, director of The Poynter Institute’s Mediawise.

AP takes pride in its reputation as a reliable news source, offering articles, images, videos, audio, and interactive content directly to consumers through its website, APNews.com. Nevertheless, a substantial portion of its revenue is derived from selling its journalism to various organizations.

Recently, AP has seen a sharp decline in income from traditional newspaper clients, losing major partners like Gannett and McClatchy in the previous year. While AP has received some philanthropic support and is exploring new revenue streams, it continues to feel the financial strain affecting the broader news industry.

Google, AP, News, AI, Journalism