Apple wants to make Siri AI better at keeping up with the news

Apple is exploring ways to enhance its AI assistant, Siri, with real-time news updates, but this could involve hefty payments to news publishers. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on August 12, Apple has been in discussions with several news organizations about providing access to their content for Siri. These multiyear deals aim to enable Siri to provide answers to current event questions and other time-sensitive information.

Apple is reportedly ready to allocate a nine-figure budget for these partnerships, with a payment structure that compensates publishers every time their reporting is utilized by Siri. This approach differs from typical AI licensing agreements, which usually involve a fixed fee in exchange for broader content access. It remains unclear which publishers have been approached or if any agreements have been sealed.

Apple has not commented on the matter. These negotiations come as Apple prepares to launch an upgraded version of Siri, set to enter beta later this year. The new Siri will have enhanced capabilities, including understanding personal context, recognizing content on users' screens, and performing actions across various apps. Apple has already built relationships with publishers through its Apple News+ subscription service, which launched in 2019.

The company has also paid for content access in the past, including rights to use publishers' material for AI training. However, Apple learned the pitfalls of AI-generated news firsthand in late 2024 when it temporarily disabled AI-generated news summaries due to inaccuracies, following complaints from publishers. The latest talks are happening as news organizations grapple with how to engage with AI product developers.

Some publishers, like News Corp and Axel Springer, have partnered with OpenAI, while The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged unauthorized use of their reporting. Publishers could find the pay-per-use system an alternative revenue stream from AI products that answer questions previously directing readers to news websites.

For Apple, it could ensure Siri provides useful real-time information when users inquire about current events.