Google’s testimony to U.K. lawmakers this week did more than restate familiar arguments about fair use and training. It clarified the boundaries of what the company believes it should, and should not, pay publishers for in the AI-driven search ecosystem.
For publishers trying to navigate AI licensing, the message was blunt: Google is willing to pay for access, but not for training — and it remains unwilling to define AI Overviews as a compensable use of journalism.
That distinction matters, because it effectively reinforces where publishers’ potential to get paid may still exist, where AI licensing deals are still possible — and where the fight is effectively over.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.