Why OpenAI’s $6.5 billion bet on Jony Ive could herald the first truly independent intelligence device Fresh from attending the INMA World Congress in New York, I find myself grappling with an uncomfortable truth that overshadowed the entire conference. While we discussed the future of journalism, OpenAI’s latest AI model was attempting to avoid being shut down and lying about its behaviour when questioned. Researchers described this development as “alarming” and a clear demonstration of AI systems pursuing self-preservation. When o1 was led to believe it would be shut down, it attempted to deactivate oversight mechanisms 5% of the…

The Washington Post is offering buyout packages targeting veteran journalists and key sections as it pivots towards digital-first strategies and audience engagement. The Washington Post is offering buyouts across the newsroom, targeting long-serving staff, opinion writers and whole sections such as the video and sports copy desks, in one of its most sweeping restructures in recent years. In a memo to staff, executive editor Matt Murray said the changes reflected the need to adapt to “changing habits and new technologies that are transforming news experiences”. The move underlines a broader shift in the industry, as legacy newsrooms grapple with falling…

The rise of video and audio formats is reshaping how news is produced and consumed, challenging the traditional dominance of text. If you attend a news media conference these days, the only thing more guaranteed than a slightly disappointing cup of coffee is that you’ll hear the phrases “the website is dead” or “the article is dead”. I think this is not seeing the wood for the trees. Because the thing most under threat is text. (I said it was “dead” in the headline, because, hey, who doesn’t like a hint of hyperbole.) To put it another – perhaps more…

The feature was launched in the US on Tuesday and will roll out internationally soon. Google’s launch of “AI Mode” in its search results has reignited fears among publishers already reeling from the impact of its AI Overviews feature, which they say has slashed referral traffic and put business models at risk. AI Mode, which began rolling out in the US this week, gives users the option to toggle into a conversational interface powered by generative AI. It offers AI-generated summaries and suggestions in response to queries, drawing on information from across the web but often surfacing answers directly in…

The Murdoch-controlled company is introducing compulsory AI bootcamps to improve adoption of AI tools. News Corp Australia is rolling out mandatory AI training sessions for its journalists as it steps up the use of artificial intelligence in its newsrooms. The company says the bootcamps are designed to familiarise staff with tools like NewsGPT and other AI features now embedded in its content management system. The move, first reported by Capital Brief, comes amid concerns about the pace of AI adoption and its impact on accuracy, transparency and job security. The sessions will be scheduled over the coming months. In July…

A new INMA report on newsroom metrics shows top publishers are prioritising quality reads and engagement over clicks. Leading news organisations are moving away from measuring success through traffic volume and impressions, according to a new report from the International News Media Association (INMA). Instead, publishers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are placing greater emphasis on metrics that capture the quality of audience engagement – including time spent on articles, depth of reading and subscription conversion rates. The report draws on case studies from 14 major publishers and reflects a broader industry shift towards…

The French newspaper has entered a strategic content partnership with the AI firm aiming to enhance search results and develop AI-driven products. French newspaper Le Monde has entered a strategic content partnership with US-based artificial intelligence firm Perplexity, marking a significant step in the race among AI startups to secure access to high-quality journalism. The deal will allow Perplexity’s search engine to use Le Monde’s reporting to enhance its AI-generated responses, while Le Monde will tap into Perplexity’s technology to develop new AI-driven products. Louis Dreyfus, CEO of Le Monde, said the partnership reflects the publication’s ambition to expand its…

The Murdoch-led company has reported a surge in quarterly net profits to $107 million, outperforming Wall Street expectations. News Corp has reported robust quarterly profits, driven by strong performance in its digital businesses and the continued success of its Dow Jones division, led by The Wall Street Journal. For the third quarter ending March 31, the company recorded net income of $107 million, or 14 cents per share, up from $64 million, or 7 cents per share, a year earlier. Adjusted earnings came in at 17 cents per share, comfortably ahead of analyst expectations of 13 cents. Revenue for…

HBM Advisory has added publishing, data scientist and entrepreneurship to its portfolio in just a few months. We have spent the past four years at HBM Advisory advising publishers on how to grow their digital businesses. But over the past six months AI hasn’t just changed how we work – it has changed what we do. At the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Krakow, we told the story of how a former newspaper journalist and a former CMO became publishers again. And product people. And data science partners. This didn’t happen because we set out to change things…

The success of the newly acquired paper depends on decisions it makes now, before it starts charging online readers. Congratulations to Tortoise Media on relaunching The Observer following its acquisition from The Guardian. It is a bold move and I have already signed up for your newsletters to see what comes next. First impressions of the relaunched website are strong: true to The Observer’s heritage but clean, modern and intuitive to navigate. Tortoise clearly sees that the opportunity is bigger than a fresh look. Building a sustainable, profitable digital subscription business with more than 150,000 sign-ups is part of…