AI firms are consolidating control over data and attention while neglecting responsibility to provide trustworthy news, potentially diminishing original journalism.

A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, condemned AI companies for brazen theft of intellectual property and warned they threaten journalism’s future during a World News Media Congress speech in Marseille.

He described AI firms as hijacking the public square by stripping news sites of content without permission or compensation, urging a stronger, more unified industry response.

The Times’ long history, extensive reporting, and on-the-ground work in multiple countries illustrate the high value and cost of quality journalism used to train AI.

The speech argues AI improvements are possible only with sustainable, transparent content usage governance and respect for intellectual property.

The WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille, organized with CMA Media, provided a platform for media leaders to discuss the evolving landscape.

The Times has pursued legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, secured a content-licensing deal with Amazon for AI use, and released newsroom AI principles, while its union pushes AI considerations in contract talks.

Publishers should defend journalism by protecting intellectual property, negotiating fair licensing, and pushing for robust policy protections, while newsrooms adapt by using AI responsibly and emphasizing original reporting.

Additional adaptive strategies include becoming a destination for readers and clearly communicating journalism’s importance.

The broader context includes concerns about sustaining traditional media models amid competition from social networks and AI-driven platforms.

There are ongoing tensions between AI developers and news organizations over permissions, attribution, and compensation for AI-derived content.

Tech giants have invoked fair use or national security to dodge responsibility, while failing to compensate creators or obtain needed permissions for training data.