USA Today Co. is reformatting content to attract more AI licensing deals

USA Today Co. is making changes to its website content to better cater to AI bots and increase the chances of securing AI content licensing deals. The publisher acknowledges the need to adapt content for both human readers and machine-based systems, stating that a shift in search behavior is being observed alongside the emergence of novel methods for licensing, distributing, and monetizing the company's trusted content.

During a company earnings call on August 6, Mike Reed, chairman and CEO of USA Today Co., emphasized the importance of restructuring content formats and templates, as this can facilitate easier access, comprehension, and citation of USA Today's reporting by AI systems. This effort aligns with the publisher's broader GEO strategy, aimed at optimizing content for AI answer engines, according to Kara Chiles, USA Today Co.'s senior vice president of product management.

Chiles shared these insights with Digiday. For more on this topic, readers can visit digiday.com. Digiday newsletters are available for sign-up to receive the latest updates on media, marketing, and the future of television.