Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
EmailThis illustration was generated using AI.
In July 2026, Aspen Digital brought together major news publishers, technology companies and philanthropy in Los Altos, California at the intersection of journalism and tech for a day of conversation and information sharing on the future of media and AI.
AI is reshaping how journalism is produced, distributed and consumed, exacerbating already difficult economic conditions for publishers. As audiences increasingly turn to AI tools for information, publishers face further pressure on traffic and direct audience relationships even as those systems draw on reporting and verified information produced by news organizations. The result is a growing tension at the center of the news and information ecosystem: the technology creating new ways to access information may also be weakening the institutions whose reporting these systems depend on.
The convening explored what a healthier information ecosystem might require and where publishers and platforms could begin working on new economic models, product experiences and data-sharing arrangements.
Over the course of the day, a clear picture emerged: the AI era’s early years have been turbulent, but the two industries have reached a point where collaboration is both necessary and possible. Attendees concluded the day with several concrete ‘offers’ rather than a single grand bargain, including specific offers from technology companies taking forward focused work around users, products,
and evidence.
Explore the full write-up and conclusions in the report attached.
This convening was made possible with support from the Siegel Family Endowment, with additional thanks to The David and Lucile Packard Foundation for hosting the gathering. We also thank Laura Maher and Ellery Wong of the Siegel Family Endowment; Aspen Digital staff Amy Symonds, Shanthi Bolla, Vivian Schiller, and Beth Semel; and consultant John Hashimoto, who helped prepare this report.
John Hashimoto is a product and AI consultant working with newsrooms through the American Journalism Project’s Product & AI Studio and Blue Engine Collaborative. Previously, he was a product leader at CNN, where he helped build CNN.com’s digital product team and develop web, mobile, and social experiences. He has also worked at Deloitte and the U.S. Digital Service. He began his career as a news producer and reporter, winning multiple awards including a Peabody and a BAFTA.
READ Related REPORTs
Mind the Gap: AI and the Future of News in Latin America
The news ecosystem in Latin America is taking a pragmatic, audience-centered approach to AI: experiment boldly, standardize wisely, and keep humans (including the humans who develop the AI tools) accountable.
AI’s Growing Role in News
AI’s role in news presents many risks, but it also represents an opportunity to fulfill the public service mission of journalism.
AI and the Future of News
There is palpable anxiety among the news media about the rapid advance of AI tools, yet the industry ignores these technologies at its peril.
