Apple's Siri AI pays publishers per-use with nine-figure budget

Apple has approached publishers in recent months to license their content for the next generation of Siri AI, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal. The company is proposing a variable compensation model, which would pay publishers each time Siri uses their content, instead of the industry-standard fixed licensing fee. Sources say Apple has considered a nine-figure budget for these payments, though no deals have been finalized. Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The move marks a strategic shift as Apple works to significantly enhance Siri, years after promising users a smarter and more capable assistant. By securing real-time access to news from major publishers, Apple aims to make Siri a more useful, up-to-date informant. The variable payment model could lower upfront costs while ensuring publishers benefit proportionally from actual usage. Siri AI is expected to roll out later this year, potentially positioning Apple to compete more directly with AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, which already integrate live web data. Yet the per-use structure may create friction with publishers accustomed to predictable revenue from licensing deals.