NYT publisher warns AI companies are destroying independent journalism

The New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger has warned that the artificial intelligence companies were threatening the future of journalism and slammed the AI giants for “brazen theft of intellectual property”. During a speech at the World News Media Congress in Marseille on Monday (June 1), Sulzberger said that the “hijacking of the public square” by the artificial intelligence companies was “made possible by the original sin that animates their A.I. products — a brazen theft of intellectual property” that he said occurred “at an unprecedented scale.” He condemned the AI companies for stealing information from news organisations and repackaging it into a free shortcut for users, starving the journalists of traffic and revenue.“Tech giants strip-mine news websites without permission or compensation. They repackage these stolen goods as their own, siphoning off the audiences and revenue that otherwise would go to the news organisations that created this work. And this happens not just once during the training process, but countless times every single day,” the NYT publisher added. ‘Too quiet, too passive and too fragmented in the face of abuses’ Sulzberger said that the news sector has been “too quiet, too passive and too fragmented in the face of abuses by the companies leading the AI revolution”, calling on other news organisations to raise their voice on the challenges the industry was facing due to the advancement of AI. The NYT was the very first major news organisation to sue OpenAI and Microsoft over the use of its copyrighted articles to build and power AI models, unleashing a wave of litigation by media organisations against AI startups. He said that the AI giants were “consolidating their outsize control over our data and our attention” but were “failing to embrace a core responsibility that comes with this power – to ensure the public has access to trustworthy news and information”. The NYT publisher further expressed grave concerns over the negative impacts of AI on the industry, stating that the world was rushing into a future where fewer reporters will be left to do the challenging work of uncovering original news.Story continues below this ad “I fear we are careening toward a future with fewer and fewer journalists to do the expensive, difficult work of original reporting — going to places, talking to people, digging up information, covering important issues and events, providing context and analysis, investigating the powerful,” Sulzberger said. “A future where a crucial wellspring of a healthy society and a stable democracy — the truth, understanding and accountability provided by original journalism — continues to dry up.” The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar