Apple Negotiates Pay-Per-Use Deals With Publishers for Siri AI Content

Apple is in discussions with news publishers to secure multiyear content deals that would provide its revamped Siri voice assistant with access to current news and information, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The talks, which involve a proposed variable compensation model, represent a significant push by the tech giant to enhance Siri's capabilities ahead of a major AI upgrade expected later this year.

Under the proposed arrangement, publishers would be paid each time their content is used to power a Siri response, a departure from the standard industry practice of guaranteed flat fees for broad content access. Apple has discussed a possible nine-figure budget for these payments, according to people familiar with the matter. The company declined to comment on the discussions.

The initiative is part of Apple's broader effort to address longstanding criticism that Siri has lagged behind rival AI assistants. The company unveiled a significantly overhauled Siri at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, 2026, pitching the new assistant as smarter and more personal. The upgraded version is set to launch this fall in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.