Apple reportedly in talks to pay publishers for Siri's news content

Apple is in talks to pay publishers to use their content to power the upcoming Siri AI, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. The tech giant has reached out to publishers in recent months about using their content to give Siri access to current news and information.

Apple has proposed a variable compensation model that would pay publishers when their content is used, rather than through a fixed licensing fee — a departure from the standard industry practice of guaranteed fees generally tied to broad access to content rather than a pay-as-you-go model. The report says Apple has considered a nine-figure budget for the payments.

Apple did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

The discussions come as Apple has been working to significantly enhance Siri, years after promising users a smarter and more capable AI assistant. Siri AI is expected to roll out later this year.

Why it matters

A pay-as-you-go licensing model, rather than the flat fees AI companies have typically negotiated with publishers, could reshape how much publishers actually earn from AI deals — tying their payout directly to how often their journalism gets surfaced rather than guaranteeing it upfront.