MARSEILLE, France — As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, The New York Times Publisher and Chairman A.G. Sulzberger has issued one of the strongest warnings yet about the impact of AI on journalism, copyright, and the future of creative work.
Speaking at the World News Media Congress, Sulzberger argued that many AI companies are building their products on copyrighted content without permission or compensation, creating what he described as a direct threat to the sustainability of original reporting and independent journalism.
His remarks come amid growing legal battles between publishers, content creators, and major technology firms developing generative AI platforms.
AI’s Growing Appetite for News Content
According to Sulzberger, the rapid rise of generative AI has created a new challenge for the news industry. Since the launch of ChatGPT less than four years ago, AI tools have attracted hundreds of millions of users and become deeply integrated into how people search for information, create content, and interact online.
While acknowledging the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, Sulzberger warned that many AI companies are benefiting from journalism without adequately supporting the organizations that produce it.
He argued that AI systems rely heavily on original reporting, investigative journalism, books, research, music, and other copyrighted works to train their models and generate responses.
“To be a destination in a world intermediated by AI, you’ll need journalism so distinctive it has its own gravity,” Sulzberger told media leaders from more than 60 countries.
Why Original Reporting Matters in the AI Era
At the center of Sulzberger’s argument is the value of original journalism.
Unlike AI systems, journalists gather information firsthand by interviewing sources, attending events, conducting investigations, analyzing documents, and holding powerful institutions accountable.
Without this continuous flow of original reporting, AI systems would have significantly less reliable information to learn from and reference.
Industry experts increasingly warn that if news organizations lose audience traffic and advertising revenue to AI-generated summaries and chatbots, the financial foundation supporting investigative journalism could weaken dramatically.
According to Sulzberger, this could result in fewer journalists, less accountability reporting, and reduced public access to trusted information.
The Copyright Battle Between Publishers and AI Companies
One of the most controversial aspects of the AI revolution involves copyright law.
Sulzberger accused major AI developers of using copyrighted material without obtaining consent from creators or publishers. He argued that technology companies have invested billions of dollars in computing infrastructure, data centers, engineering talent, and energy resources while often treating creative content differently.
He highlighted what he sees as a contradiction: AI companies pay for talent, computing power, and electricity, yet frequently resist paying for the journalism, books, music, and films that help power their systems.
The debate has become increasingly significant as publishers worldwide seek compensation for the use of their content in AI training and AI-generated responses.
AI Is Not the Enemy, Sulzberger Says
Despite his criticism, Sulzberger made it clear that he is not opposed to artificial intelligence itself.
The New York Times has actively explored AI tools to improve newsroom operations, audience engagement, content distribution, and business performance. The company has also embraced technological innovation throughout its history, adapting to major industry shifts from print to digital publishing.
Sulzberger emphasized that responsible use of AI can help journalists work more efficiently while maintaining editorial oversight and human decision-making.
“AI has the power to do a great deal of good in the world,” he said.
His concern, he explained, is not the technology itself but the business practices surrounding its development.
Journalism Faces a Defining Moment
The speech highlighted what many media executives view as a defining moment for journalism.
Publishers have already navigated decades of disruption caused by declining print revenues, digital advertising challenges, changing consumer habits, and growing threats to press freedom.
Now, AI presents both a major opportunity and a significant risk.
Sulzberger urged news organizations to become more vocal in defending their intellectual property rights and advocating for policies that support sustainable journalism.
He warned that remaining passive could allow AI companies to further consolidate control over information distribution while weakening the economic foundations that support original reporting.
The Future of AI and News
As governments, regulators, publishers, and technology companies continue debating the rules surrounding artificial intelligence, one issue is becoming increasingly clear: the future of AI and the future of journalism are deeply connected.
The information ecosystem that powers AI depends heavily on original human-created content. Without strong protections for creators, publishers, and journalists, critics argue that the quality and diversity of information available online could decline over time.
For Sulzberger, the solution is not to slow innovation but to ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of the creators whose work makes AI possible.
His message to the global news industry was straightforward: embrace innovation, but defend the rights and economic models that make independent journalism sustainable.
Why This Debate Matters Beyond Journalism
The implications extend far beyond news organizations.
According to Sulzberger, AI companies have accessed vast amounts of copyrighted content from books, movies, music, research papers, and other creative works. Globally, creative industries generate trillions of dollars in economic value and support tens of millions of jobs.
As AI adoption accelerates, the outcome of the copyright debate could influence not only journalism but also the future of publishing, entertainment, education, and creative professions worldwide.
The challenge facing policymakers, publishers, and technology companies is finding a balance that encourages innovation while ensuring creators receive recognition, protection, and fair compensation for their work.
