Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus of News Corp, revealed that the media giant is actively exploring opportunities and challenges presented by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools. During News Corp's annual shareholder meeting, Murdoch mentioned ongoing negotiations related to providing original content to companies building generative AI tools. Emphasizing News Corp's role in advocating for compensation from digital platforms, Murdoch and CEO Robert Thomson highlighted the importance of ensuring fair compensation for news organizations as the industry engages with the rise of generative AI.
Rupert Murdoch disclosed that News Corp is deeply engaged in negotiations related to supplying original content to companies involved in building generative AI tools. The company sees growth opportunities in an era dominated by generative AI.
News Corp is committed to ensuring that AI tools compensate news organizations for their content. Murdoch stated that the company is playing a leading role in the debate over the value of original content for AI providers and is actively negotiating with key partners.
CEO Robert Thomson highlighted News Corp's decade-long efforts to seek compensation for content from major digital platforms. With the rise of generative AI, the company has entered a new phase of negotiations. Thomson expressed the need for AI to be constructive and not lead to the degradation of creativity.
The growing influence of AI tools could bring increased scrutiny to major tech companies, particularly Meta and Google. News Corp's engagement with generative AI underscores the broader debate about fair compensation for content, with Australia already passing laws requiring tech firms to negotiate content deals with publishers.
Thomson has previously voiced concerns about AI's potential negative impact on journalism, including the risk of undermining the industry. He has highlighted issues of left-wing bias in AI models and expressed worries about the harvesting of News Corp's intellectual property for training AI models.
News Corp's proactive approach to engaging with generative AI and negotiating compensation reflects the evolving landscape of media and technology. As AI tools become increasingly influential, the media industry is navigating discussions around fair compensation and the impact of AI on journalism. News Corp's stance underscores the importance of addressing these challenges and opportunities as the industry adapts to technological advancements.
