The Economist licenses its content to enterprise clients’ private LLMs

October 16, 2025 Presented by Welcome to LLM deals 2.0. Publishers aren't just cutting lump-sum "training" agreements anymore, they're widening the remit to include usage-based licensing for RAG, private enterprise deployments and even collective licensing via intermediaries. And for better or worse, AI is changing the industry, which means even influencer marketing and creators are going to have to adapt. We’ve got the stats. TOP STORY The Economist licenses its content to enterprise clients' private LLMs The Economist is among those to start licensing its content this way – having opened its API to corporate clients with their own data ring-fenced LLMs in August.  Advertisement OTHER THINGS TO KNOW The WorkLife Awards present the opportunity to recognize top employers and the values that shape their unique cultures. Your last chance to submit entries is November 7. Eighty-seven percent of publishers said in a new survey that they’ve increased their subscriber engagement budgets over the past year, enabling more experimentation as teams rethink how they operate to turn data into sustainable revenue. Partner insights from Marigold. The digital landscape is flooded with content, creating a challenge for brands to provide effective customer experiences. But leveraging technology like AI and composable CMS can help marketers deliver personalized experiences. Partner insights from Contentful. MARKETING The Creator Economy Brands are betting on creators to make their next hit series Brands are betting (again) on original content, but this time with creators at the helm in hopes to make it stick. The Creator Economy In graphic detail: How AI is going to shape influencer marketing next year With AI transforming the industry, Digiday has charted how the tech is expected to impact influencer marketing over the next year. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM BROWSI Ad signals that tell the full story of impact For years, advertisers have focused on whether ads are viewable and human when assessing their impact. But five signals help tell a fuller story. A MESSAGE FROM DISNEY CAMPAIGN MANAGER Where TV advertising meets precision and performance This Huluween, do not let your media buy become the real horror story. Disney Campaign Manager makes it simple to reach the right audiences with precision and connect with fandoms where they are already watching on Disney+, ESPN and Hulu streaming platforms. Your clients want reach with impact, not wasted spend on random placements. With one smart platform, you can set up, launch, measure and optimize so every campaign delivers results your clients can see. Learn more PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM DIRECTV Advertisers are turning to in-flight advertising to reach holiday travelers Sixty percent of U.S. holiday travelers plan to fly to their destination this winter, representing a huge, largely untapped audience for brands to reach in the cabin. Advertisement MEDIA & PLATFORMS WTF: Ad Context Protocol? Open standard aims to let AI agents negotiate directly across ad tech, with comparisons to OpenRTB and header bidding. Retail Revolution Giant Eagle continues its strategic shift away from convenience stores and toward pharmacies Giant Eagle rolled out a new business strategy called “Because it Matters” that will define its future growth, with an emphasis on value, improved quality and service, and remodeled stores. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM KEEN DECISION SYSTEMS How agencies use data to strengthen media plans The modern marketing environment calls for quick thinking and data-driven decisions, so agencies need plans rooted in outcomes, not impressions. DIGIDAY + Member exclusive Media Briefing: Why some publishers are flipping their position on whether to block AI bots Some publishers that blocked all AI bots are rethinking their stance, as AI platform traffic raises new monetization and access trade-offs. Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde Were you forwarded this email? Sign up to get it daily. Advertise | Digiday+ | Events | Awards Update your email | Unsubscribe | Privacy policy