New York Times Stuns Industry by Licensing Its Archives to Amazon for AI Training

In a groundbreaking move that’s shaking up the media and tech landscape, The New York Times has entered into a multi-year content licensing agreement with Amazon to support the retail giant’s artificial intelligence models. The announcement, made Thursday, marks the first generative AI partnership for the Gray Lady—an unexpected twist, especially as the publication continues its lawsuit against OpenAI for unauthorized data scraping.

The deal will allow Amazon to utilize decades of New York Times journalism, including specialized content from The Athletic and NYT Cooking, across a variety of AI-powered services. That means users of Alexa, for instance, could soon hear real-time news digests, recipe suggestions, or sports updates based on Times content—summarized and delivered by AI. In return, Amazon commits to preserving the integrity and proper attribution of all Times content used within its systems.

“The collaboration will make The New York Times’s original content more accessible to customers across Amazon products and services,” said the Times in a public statement. Meredith Kopit Levien, CEO of The Times Company, emphasized in an internal memo that the deal aligns with the paper’s core belief: “High-quality journalism is worth paying for.”

The financial terms remain under wraps, but sources cited by ESPN suggest Amazon acquired more than a 20% stake in the media company’s AI content licensing rights. Following the announcement, The New York Times stock saw an immediate 1.85% surge, nearing its all-time high.

The deal also signals a broader shift in how media companies are navigating the rapid rise of generative AI. Initially one of the most vocal opponents to unlicensed AI training, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft in late 2023, accusing them of “illegally scraping millions of articles” for tools like ChatGPT.

Yet now, The Times has opted to capitalize on its extensive archive through a partnership that gives it control, compensation, and credibility in the AI space. A Times spokesperson explained the rationale, noting that “when Times articles are used, they’re correctly attributed and presented in a way that maintains the paper’s journalistic integrity.”

This landmark agreement joins a growing list of alliances between media houses and tech behemoths. The Washington Post, News Corp, AFP, Axios, Guardian Media Group, and the Associated Press have all signed deals with either OpenAI, Google, or newer startups like Mistral. These collaborations aim to ensure fair compensation for content in an age when chatbot-generated answers often divert traffic away from original publishers.

The licensing gold rush comes at a time when the global information economy is undergoing a massive transformation. Generative AI models require enormous datasets to function—and news content, rich with language, narrative, and factual context, is prime real estate.

Interestingly, while the deal marks a new chapter in Amazon’s partnership with The New York Times, it’s not their first collaboration. The Times already hosts its podcasts on Amazon Music, and insiders suggest this new arrangement builds upon a foundation of mutual benefit.

In a space often dominated by lawsuits, friction, and fears of AI replacing journalism, this deal offers a roadmap: monetize ethically, partner strategically, and retain editorial control. The New York Times, once a holdout in the AI race, has now stepped firmly onto the field—and brought Alexa along for the ride.