Under the global AI wave, traditional media giants are seeking to transition from "content providers" to "technological foundations." Recently, Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corp, delivered a confident speech at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference. He stated that after reaching a $150 million partnership agreement with Meta, News Corp has essentially become an AI "input company."

According to this three-year agreement, Meta will be authorized to scrape content from News Corp's U.S. and U.K. media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and The London Times, for training its AI models. Thomson compared these high-quality, reliable breaking news to "semiconductors" or "energy" in the AI era. He emphasized that the core data provided by News Corp is an essential top-tier input in the evolution of AI.

When discussing relationships with tech giants, Thomson demonstrated flexible business acumen. He revealed that he maintains good personal relationships with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He joked, "I often chat with Mark through WhatsApp." Thomson advocates a "cooperate (win over) or sue" strategy: actively reaching licensing agreements with AI companies willing to pay fees, but also unhesitatingly suing platforms that illegally scrape content.

Although News Corp has already secured significant returns through its long-term $250 million deal with OpenAI and transactions with Meta, not all regions are harmonious. In Australia, News Corp has taken a more aggressive stance against social media platforms, accusing them of "monsters" that plunder free content while undermining social cohesion and affecting the health of teenagers.

Key Points

  • 🔋 Re-defining Identity: The CEO said the company is no longer just a traditional media company but an AI "input device" company like semiconductors and energy.

  • 🤝 Major Deals Completed: After signing a $250 million deal with OpenAI, it has also reached a $150 million content licensing agreement with Meta.

  • 📱 Frequent High-Level Interactions: Thomson said he frequently communicates directly with Altman and Zuckerberg, using a dual strategy of "winning over or suing" to protect content rights.