In today’s Digest, Judge Amit Mehta zooms in on generative AI in Google’s antitrust case, the New York Times strikes an AI content licensing deal with Amazon, and the AI copyright clash intensifies.

Judge Zooms In on Generative AI in Google’s Antitrust Case

A US federal judge is analysing Google’s dominance in the AI sector, as final arguments were heard in the Department of Justice’s antitrust search case against the tech giant. During closing proceedings at the US District Court in Washington on Friday, Judge Amit Mehta pressed both Google and the DOJ on whether limiting the company’s influence in emerging AI driven search could serve as an effective remedy. 

The DOJ contends that Google’s stronghold on traditional search is already shaping the future of information access, particularly through AI powered platforms. DOJ attorney David Dahlquist argued that potential remedies would create space for new players to emerge, describing generative AI as “the new search access point.” Mehta’s decision could set a precedent for how antitrust law is applied to AI and digital markets going forward.

New York Times Strikes AI Content Licensing Agreement with Amazon

The New York Times has entered into a licensing agreement with Amazon, allowing the tech giant to integrate Times editorial content across its AI platforms. The deal marks the Times’s first commercial agreement centred on generative AI, and includes access to content from NYT Cooking and The Athletic, alongside its core news reporting.

According to the CEO of The Times, Meredith Kopit Levien, “The deal is consistent with our long-held principle that high-quality journalism is worth paying for. It aligns with our deliberate approach to ensuring that our work is valued appropriately, whether through commercial deals or through the enforcement of our intellectual property rights.”

AI Copyright Clash Intensifies 

The standoff between the UK government and creative industry advocates over artificial intelligence and copyright regulations reignited in the House of Lords on Monday. The House of Lords has rejected the latest amendment to the Data Use and Access Bill, with the Lords largely looking to ensure more protections for creatives. The issue will now be returned to the Commons for further deliberation.

At the heart of the dispute is the fundamental challenge of how to strike a balance between two powerful sectors, the tech and creative industries. Ministers face mounting opposition from peers backing artists, with tensions escalating rather than easing. While the debate centres on AI, the underlying stakes are human: jobs, ownership, and the value of creativity. The key question remains how AI developers can access creative content to improve their tools without eroding the rights and incomes of the creators themselves.

Supporters of the bill, including former Meta executive Sir Nick Clegg, argue that requiring prior consent from all rights holders would stifle AI innovation in the UK. Opponents, such as crossbench peer and filmmaker Baroness Beeban Kidron, counter that creators’ rights are being overlooked in favour of unchecked technological expansion.