Google says more than 400 publications worldwide are now participating in its News AI pilot program, a licensing initiative under which the company pays news publishers for the delivery and use of enhanced content to develop new AI features.
In an update published on its Keyword blog on October 15, Google named the program's newest partners, ranging from global outlets such as Axios, CNN, The Financial Times and Forbes to local publishers in the United States including the Post and Courier, Texas Tribune, Oil City News and Shaw Media.
The program launched in December 2025 with partners including The Washington Post, The Guardian and Der Spiegel. Google said it was testing AI-powered article overviews on participating publications' Google News pages and experimenting with audio briefings, with clear attribution and links to original reporting.
Separately, CNN said on Thursday it had agreed to a multi-year partnership with Google to explore how generative AI could help drive audience engagement. The deal gives Google enhanced content rights for experimental AI features, and CNN said it would be compensated for the delivery and use of its journalism. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The expansion matters for news publishers weighing how AI changes content discovery, referral traffic and licensing revenue.