Bargaining with Big Tech: how to build a better news ecosystem in the AI era

Publishers everywhere face the collapse of traditional search referral and a fundamental re-engineering of the web by Silicon Valley. Google and Open AI are aggressively reshaping the news experience, transitioning from a model that directs users to information to one that provides the "answer" directly within their own interfaces. As the Big Tech firms increasingly operate as quasi-political entities, the power imbalance has reached a critical juncture. This is no longer just a legal debate over copyright; it is a battle for the fundamental discoverability of human-led, public-interest journalism in an era of synthetic content.
Who will the winners and losers be in this emerging world, and how might news organisations move beyond defensive posturing towards partnerships and new initiatives in order to survive? How can we balance the pragmatic need for revenue through licensing with the long-term imperative to protect the open web and the public’s right to know?
In this session, AI leaders from three major publishers – covering markets in Europe, the UK, the US and LatAm – will share behind-the-scenes insights into high-stakes deal-making and the development of new content marketplaces. They will move beyond the headlines to discuss the technical and ethical frameworks – and the "radical collaboration" – required for newsrooms to stand their ground, protect their intellectual property, and redefine the terms of engagement with Big Tech.
Moderated by Lucy Kueng.
Organised in association with Guardian Media Group.