The India AI Summit in New Delhi has brought to light the growing tension between big tech companies and news publishers over the economics of journalism. Held at Bharat Mandapam, the summit showcased how AI’s rise is reshaping the media landscape, with experts warning that major tech platforms are using news content to train AI models without compensating publishers.
Robert Whitehead, Digital Platform Initiatives Lead at the International News Media Association, highlighted the issue by noting that AI-generated summaries have led to a significant drop in web traffic, with up to 60% fewer users visiting news sites. This decline raises concerns about the sustainability of journalism, as news organizations struggle to fund original reporting.
Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson of the India Today Group, described the situation as ‘digital imperialism,’ emphasizing that Indian media does not receive the same exceptions as American counterparts. As AI models rely heavily on high-quality news content, the lack of revenue sharing and attribution is causing an imbalance in the media ecosystem.
The summit also addressed the broader implications of AI on journalism, including its potential to influence public discourse, elections, and national security. Mohit Jain, COO of Bennett Coleman & Company Limited, argued for a different standard of care when AI tools interact with journalistic content, given its intellectual property nature.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India’s commitment to AI governance, highlighting the summit as a platform for building global consensus. With participation from industry giants like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman, the event marks a significant step for India in AI leadership. As AI continues to evolve, the need for fair compensation and accountability in the use of journalistic content remains a critical issue.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 18th, 2026
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