A couple of years ago, the AI question for most publishers was whether to experiment. That has been settled. AI is now at work in newsrooms, archives, ad sales and production, and the harder conversation is about what it is doing to the business around it.
Search is the pressure point. Answer engines summarise journalism without sending the reader on, and referral traffic is falling as a result. Publishers are split between signing licensing deals and blocking crawlers, with more of them now looking to negotiate collectively. Before any contract is signed, it is worth knowing which of your content is genuinely hard to replace and exactly what rights are being sold.
AI might be able to knock out something quickly, but speed isn’t the same as value and fluency isn’t the same as truth.
Toby Wiseman AI in practice: Hearst UK
Inside the business the picture is brighter. Regional groups use AI-assisted reporting for routine local stories, which frees other reporters to get out of the office. B2B publishers have turned deep archives into search tools that answer readers' questions, and at least one has sold subscriptions off the back of it.
Whether the human checks survive cost pressure is the open question. So far, the industry's bet is that original, specialist journalism and a direct relationship with readers will hold their value however the technology moves.
Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on AI in publishing, from licensing strategy and search to newsroom case studies and editorial policy, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.
Before rushing in to make deals with AI companies, publishers need to properly evaluate the value of their content, says Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the Professional Publishers Association.
The biggest puzzle for publishers today is where to find audiences and how to keep them. How to meet this challenge was the focus of the latest AOP CRUNCH event, writes AOP’s Richard Reeves.
emap’s Nursing Times was quick to explore the potential of AI when it launched its LLM search service last year. Sixteen months on, Robin Booth tells us what they’ve achieved so far and how they plan to use AI next.
Newsquest has published over 10,000 articles with the aid of AI. Jody Doherty-Cove, head of editorial AI, tells us how and why Newsquest is deploying AI across its newsrooms.
Toby Wiseman, MD, content, tells us how Hearst UK is using AI now and where he sees the best opportunities for future development.
Most publishers are trialling AI tools to some degree, but how many are actually seeing quantifiable benefits from their efforts? Meg Carter talks to Ana Jakimovska, head of AI strategy at Mediahuis, about their approach to AI adoption.
Steve Pinches, chief product and technology officer at Which?, looks at the tech opportunities and challenges facing his company and the wider consumer publishing sector.
Peter Barr-Watson, chief technology officer at The Independent, looks at the tech opportunities and challenges facing his company and the wider news media sector.
Reuters Institute’s ‘Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2026’ report shows how publishers are reacting to the twin threats from AI answer engines and human creators, writes Nic Newman.
Having humans involved in the process has been what’s given publishers the license to explore all that artificial intelligence has to offer…
The brand might have just celebrated its centenary but its attention is firmly focused on the future, staying on top of its fragmenting market, diversifying its revenue streams, extending its reach and growing the LTV of its all-important subs.
Generative AI is a transformative technology and publishing companies need to work out what it means for them and their audiences. Immediate Media’s approach has been underpinned by education and experimentation, as Hannah Williams explains.
Without readers, viewers and listeners, publishers are nothing. That is why they work so hard to grow and engage their audience. We talk to Alma’s Ed Walker about how publishers should be refining their strategies.
Nursing Times has announced the launch of its new AI-powered search engine Ask Nursing Times.
How publishers should take advantage of AI advancements continues to be a burning question for the industry. We grab five minutes with Bright Sites founder Brian Alford to get his insights…
Competition from non-humans is one threat honest news providers face, attacks from dishonest humans is another.
Pixometry has revealed its next-generation image optimisation Software as a Service solution.
Richard Wiles has been appointed new director of data for News UK.
The Government has published its response to the AI White Paper, setting out its next steps for its ‘pro-innovation’ regulatory approach to AI.
If you’ve gone to the trouble and expense of employing a real live journalist, the make sure your readers know about it.
With the demise of the cookie, the rise of attention, and increasing focus on sustainability, the world of digital advertising is changing fast. The Digital Voice’s Julia Linehan tells us how publishers can make the most of this transitional period.
The Association of Online Publishers survey reveals publishers optimistic for year ahead, with focus on product innovation.
The News Media Association's chief executive has responded to the government’s response to the AI consultation.
The National Union of Journalists has welcomed the House of Lords report urging action to ensure the protection of rightsholders.
The News Media Association has responded to the Lords Communications and Digital Committee’s Report into large language models.
