New York Times CEO Warns AI Companies: ‘They Have to Pay Us’

Meredith Kopit Levien, CEO of The New York Times, delivered a firm warning to artificial intelligence companies on Wednesday, stating: "They have to pay us." Speaking at a panel during the Status Summit event in New York, Kopit Levien emphasized that any company utilizing The Times' work to develop generative AI tools must enter into a commercial agreement with the newspaper.

She stated that The Times would not permit any entity to operate without a formal agreement and would enforce its rights where necessary. The publisher's stance requires permission from The Times for any use of its journalism, along with control over how the content is utilized, and compensation deemed fair and sustainable. When asked about Google's AI search practices by Status founder Oliver Darcy, Kopit Levien declined to comment on specific companies not publicly addressed or whether The Times might take legal action against Google.

Instead, she stressed that The Times' conditions apply broadly to model makers incorporating its journalism into generative AI tools. The newspaper has adopted a dual strategy regarding AI, pursuing copyright lawsuits against OpenAI, Microsoft, and Perplexity while also being open to commercial arrangements. In 2025, The Times concluded an AI licensing deal with Amazon, enabling the tech giant to use content from The Times, NYT Cooking, and The Athletic in products such as Alexa and for training its AI models.

The publisher allocated $4.2 million towards AI-related litigation in the first quarter of 2026. Kopit Levien also highlighted the significant influence major technology companies wield over the quality of information accessible to the public, as their products increasingly dictate how individuals locate and engage with news. "These companies, including Google, bear a substantial responsibility for the quality of information and discourse that the public has access to," she affirmed.