TNB Tech Minute: Apple Discusses Deals to Pay Publishers to Improve Siri

Apple is in talks to strike multi-year deals with news publishers to license their content for use in training and powering a major upcoming upgrade to its Siri voice assistant, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The company is proposing agreements that would give it access to current news and information to help fuel Siri AI, a long-awaited overhaul of the often-criticized assistant expected to roll out later this year. The Journal was among the first participants in the discussions; its parent company, News Corp, already has a commercial agreement to supply news through Apple services.

Apple Pursues News Deals to Boost Siri AI

The talks represent a significant strategic shift for Apple, which has historically been reluctant to pay publishers for content. The company is now seeking to license news articles and other information to improve the accuracy and usefulness of Siri’s AI-powered responses. People familiar with the matter say the proposed deals would be multi-year and would provide Apple with a steady stream of current news and information to train and update the assistant. The move comes as Apple faces increasing pressure to catch up with rivals like Google and Microsoft, which have already integrated generative AI into their search and productivity tools. If successful, the deals could give Apple a competitive edge by providing Siri with access