Meta signs its first big AI deal for news

Meta has partnered with Reuters in a multi-year deal to use Reuters content for its AI chatbot responses to news-related queries. The deal will allow Meta to cite Reuters reporting and provide links to Reuters stories, starting with US users. Reuters will be compensated for its content, which will be accessible through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. This partnership is the first of its kind for Meta, following other news outlets that have signed licensing deals with AI companies. Meta's AI chatbot will now provide more useful information on current events, in addition to its existing creative tasks and how-to assistance. The company's move into news and current events is notable, given its previous stance against such content on Threads. However, Meta is also fighting laws that would require compensating news publishers for their content on social media, opting to block publisher accounts and links in Canada instead. This contradictory approach has raised questions about Meta's intentions and its willingness to pay for news content while resisting laws that would require it to do so. Other news organizations, such as The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal, have signed licensing deals with OpenAI, while The New York Times is engaged in a legal battle against OpenAI and Microsoft over copyright infringement. The partnership between Meta and Reuters highlights the evolving relationship between news outlets and AI companies.