Summarised by Centrist
In a first-of-its-kind deal, Google has reached an agreement with California lawmakers to pour a combined USD$180m over five years to support local news outlets through a nonprofit housed at UC Berkeley’s journalism school.
But the deal, which includes USD$70m earmarked for AI development, doesn’t sit well with many journalists and Democratic lawmakers alike.
The “National AI Accelerator” is intended to address challenges across various industries, including journalism. One potential outcome could be the development of tools like CalMatters’ Digital Democracy program, which uses AI to monitor state legislation. But many journalists are concerned AI is on track to replace them.
Assembly member Buffy Wicks, who led the negotiations, acknowledged the criticism but defended the compromise, stating, “I think I’m dealing with the art of the possible.”
The Media Guild of the West, a journalist union, condemned the agreement as a “total rout” by Google, accusing the tech giant of leveraging its power to secure favourable terms.
Wicks and her coalition argued that online platforms have drained crucial ad revenue, damaging newsrooms and democracy. Google countered, saying they’ve already supported newsrooms financially and warned that Wicks’ plan could fuel clickbait and fringe content, potentially aiding right-wing outlets.
