Amazon and The New York Times Sign Landmark AI Licensing Deal

In a pivotal move that signals a shift in how news organizations engage with artificial intelligence, The New York Times has signed its first-ever licensing deal for AI with Amazon. This multi-year agreement gives Amazon the right to use Times content — including articles, NYT Cooking recipes, and material from The Athletic — to enhance Alexa and help train Amazon’s proprietary AI models.

What Does the Deal Include?

• Multi-year licensing: Amazon will be able to display summaries and snippets of New York Times content via voice and screen interfaces, such as Alexa.

• AI training: The agreement allows Amazon to train its AI models using licensed NYT content.

• Exclusions: The deal notably excludes Wirecutter, likely due to its close relationship with Amazon’s product affiliate structure.

Why It Matters

• Protecting journalistic value

  This agreement comes after The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in 2023 for allegedly using its content without permission. Rather than waiting for lawsuits, NYT is now proactively monetizing its intellectual property.

• Mutual benefits

  For The Times, it opens new revenue streams beyond subscriptions and extends its reach through new technologies.

  For Amazon, it means high-quality, real-time information can power smarter, more reliable experiences on Alexa and other products.

• Strategic advantage

  While companies like OpenAI and Microsoft face legal challenges, Amazon has chosen the collaborative route. This could position it as a more sustainable and responsible partner in the evolving AI ecosystem.

  
  

The New York Times joins other major publishers such as The Atlantic, Reuters, Financial Times, and News Corp, who have already signed licensing deals with various AI companies. These partnerships mark the beginning of a more structured approach to how AI companies source the data that powers their tools.

This deal strengthens the case that AI companies must license premium content, not simply scrape it under the guise of "fair use." It sets a precedent for future negotiations and underscores the idea that journalism has tangible value in the AI era.

Conclusion

The agreement between Amazon and The New York Times could shape the future of AI training and media collaboration. As more companies realize the importance of ethically sourced data, this model of licensing and cooperation may become the new standard. For newsrooms and tech giants alike, the message is clear: innovation and integrity can — and must — go hand in hand.