TLDR: Google has signed its inaugural commercial AI news agreement in Australia with the Australian Associated Press (AAP). This multi-year deal will integrate AAP’s journalistic content into Google’s Gemini AI application to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of its responses for Australian users.
In a significant development for the Australian media landscape, Google has announced its first commercial artificial intelligence (AI) news deal in the country, partnering with the Australian Associated Press (AAP). This multi-year agreement will see AAP’s extensive news content utilized to ‘enhance responses’ within Google’s Gemini AI application, aiming to provide more timely and accurate information to users.
AAP, recognized as Australia’s sole independent newswire, plays a crucial role in supplying news to hundreds of outlets nationwide. The newswire, with its 90-year legacy of primary-source journalism and a strong reputation for objectivity, is expected to significantly bolster the value and reliability of the content delivered through Google’s AI assistant.
Emma Cowdroy, CEO of AAP, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, ‘We are pleased to partner with Google to provide our journalism as a mechanism for ensuring timeliness and accuracy in the information that its products provide.’ She further added, ‘This is a strong endorsement of our reputation as a leading and trusted news media organisation.’
Nic Hopkins, Google’s local head of news partnerships, highlighted the benefits for Australian consumers. ‘This new partnership with AAP will help deliver a feed of real-time information to enhance responses in the Gemini app and will assist Australians when they look for locally relevant up-to-date information,’ Hopkins commented. This deal builds upon several years of existing collaboration between Google and AAP, which has included initiatives in journalist training and digital innovation investment.
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This landmark agreement for Google in Australia comes at a notable time for AAP, coinciding with the announcement that AAP chair Gail Hambly will step down from her role after four years. The deal also follows a similar significant agreement struck in May between News Corp and OpenAI, indicating a growing trend of AI companies partnering with news organizations for content.
