Transforming Journalism with AI: The Agreement between Le Monde and Perplexity
In March 2024, Le Monde signed a pivotal agreement with OpenAI, only to follow this up with another significant partnership on May 13th with Perplexity, a rising star in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Founded in 2022 in San Francisco, Perplexity has positioned itself as a cornerstone within this burgeoning industry. The primary offering from Perplexity is its “Increased search engine,” colloquially known as an answer engine. Unlike traditional search engines that provide a list of links, this sophisticated tool leverages AI language models to interpret questions phrased in natural language, thereby delivering customized answers that include links to sourced information.
By sealing this agreement with Perplexity, Le Monde has joined the ranks of notable international publishers, such as Der Spiegel, Prisa (known for El Pais), and Time Magazine.
Unlike the previous agreement with OpenAI, the multi-year contract with Perplexity specifically restricts the use of Le Monde’s content solely for responding to user queries (output). This partnership not only allows users of Perplexity to locate information from Le Monde but also aims to attract a new generation of readers who are increasingly inclined to use such technologies. Every time the answer engine utilizes an article from Le Monde, it ensures the insertion of a link back to the original article, thereby enhancing visibility.
In what ways does “Le Monde” use AI?
Moreover, this agreement grants Le Monde access to Sonar, a response engine set to be gradually deployed on its website and applications in the coming months. This new capability will offer readers a supplementary research experience compared to traditional search engines. Essentially, readers will have the opportunity to pose queries in natural language, with responses sourced exclusively from Le Monde’s content. However, this integration comes with contractual obligations to ensure the reliability and relevance of these answers. Should the engine fail to meet these standards, it would be discontinued.
It is also important to emphasize that this new agreement will not compromise the independence of our journalists or their investigative freedom, particularly in relation to the AI landscape and Perplexity.
We firmly believe that this agreement, which remains non-exclusive, offers significant advantages for Le Monde, its readers, and subscribers, contributing positively to the online information sector. Similar to the deal with OpenAI, this agreement financially compensates Le Monde for the referencing of its content, affirming its intrinsic value. This creates a second precedent during a period when publishers are grappling with asserting their rights in the digital arena, particularly against a backdrop of AI entities that have often neglected copyright regulations.
A Growing Issue in the Digital Age
As it stands, Le Monde is the only French publisher that has secured an agreement with OpenAI, adopting the role of a pioneer in this transformative journey that necessitates revisiting established practices while staunchly defending our rights. Following our partnership with OpenAI, Le Monde continues to explore potential collaboration opportunities with leading AI innovators. The agreement with Perplexity embodies this ongoing effort, aimed at enhancing the referencing of our content across various platforms while safeguarding our rights and ensuring equitable compensation for content utilization. Complementing the prior deal with OpenAI, the Perplexity partnership enhances the quality of information rendered to users across digital platforms and paves the way for innovative tools aimed at Le Monde’s readership.
The Le Monde Group has a charter on artificial intelligence
We have consistently sought to ensure that any agreements forged by Le Monde with these AI entities remain non-exclusive, enabling further explorations of possibilities. There is a pressing desire for French and European stakeholders to join this momentum, thereby ensuring respect for copyright. Copyright law, introduced at Beaumarchais’ initiative in 1791, remains one of the cornerstones of our industry. It would be contradictory for only American corporations to establish such agreements that protect and adequately compensate publishers. It is both natural and virtuous for European entities, originating from a region that laid the groundwork for copyright, to engage in this essential economic logic for our sector’s sustainability. We eagerly anticipate the next phase in this revolutionary journey.