New York Times publisher warns AI companies threaten journalism's future by using content without compensation

Speaking at the 77th World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, Sulzberger highlighted that AI companies benefit from journalism while weakening news organizations. He noted that the increasing use of AI-powered chatbots and search tools reduces traffic to news websites, thereby undermining the revenue needed for original reporting. Sulzberger argued that AI firms use copyrighted content from news organizations to train their systems and generate user responses, often without permission.

He expressed concern that this trend could lead to fewer journalists doing expensive, difficult original reporting. He emphasized that journalism is essential for democracy and public accountability, urging news organizations to defend their intellectual property rights and advocate for stronger legal protections. Sulzberger pointed out that while technology firms pay for engineers, data centers, and electricity, they often resist paying for the content used to train their systems, which they refer to as "data."

He criticized their shifting explanations for this practice, including claims of innovation, taking only facts, and invoking "fair use" or national security. He also called on media organizations to responsibly embrace AI while maintaining editorial oversight and investing in original re