In the early 2000s, Google faced backlash from media industries over its use of copyrighted content, a sentiment resurfaced as the tech giant now faces criticism for using publishers’ material to train its AI tools. During Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference, People Inc CEO Neil Vogel characterized Google as a “bad actor,” contrasting it with other AI companies that compensate content creators. Vogel noted that while AI-generated responses limit traffic to publisher websites, Google remains a crucial source despite decreasing visits.
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince emphasized the shift from Google’s role as a traffic generator to an AI-driven ecosystem diminishing web discoverability. In the spirit of early YouTube’s monetization model, some suggest royalties could offer a viable solution for content creators. However, skepticism remains, as industry leaders express concern over tech giants’ unpredictable partnerships. As the AI landscape evolves, the need for fair compensation in digital media becomes increasingly urgent.
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