Latest news with #contentmonetization
TechCrunch
20 hours ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Why Cloudflare wants AI companies to pay for content
Cloudflare wants AI companies to pay up. The cloud infrastructure provider, which powers around 20% of the web, is launching a new experiment that would let publishers charge AI firms every time their bots scrape a site. It's called Pay per Crawl, and it could reshape how content is accessed and monetized online. Today on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec and Max Zeff dig into Cloudflare's big swing, why it's a natural next step after a year of laying groundwork for bot-blocking tools, and whether the plan to sit at the center of a pay-for-content protocol is genius…or just wishful thinking. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: How ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, went viral thanks to backlash from former prosecutor Pam Bondi. ICEBlock is now one of the most-downloaded free iPhone apps in the U.S. Why Figma's S-1 filing could set the stage for a blockbuster IPO, and what its 48% revenue growth says about demand for design tools What Grammarly's acquisition of Superhuman signals about its vision for the 'agentic future' of productivity Tesla co-founder JB Straubel's new venture and how it might just challenge Tesla's own storage business Equity will be back next week, and for those of you in the U.S., enjoy the long holiday weekend! Equity is TechCrunch's flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Cloudflare launches tool to help website owners monetize AI bot crawler access
NEW YORK :Cloudflare has launched a tool that blocks bot crawlers from accessing content without permission or compensation to help websites make money from AI firms trying to access and train on their content, the software company said on Tuesday. The tool allows website owners to choose whether artificial intelligence crawlers can access their material and set a price for access through a "pay per crawl" model, which will help them control how their work is used and compensated, Cloudflare said. With AI crawlers increasingly collecting content without sending visitors to the original source, website owners are looking to develop additional revenue sources as search traffic referrals that once generated advertising revenue decline. The initiative is supported by major publishers including Condé Nast and Associated Press, as well as social media companies such as Reddit and Pinterest. Cloudflare's Chief Strategy Officer Stephanie Cohen said the goal of such tools was to give publishers control over their content, and ensure a sustainable ecosystem for online content creators and AI companies. "The change in traffic patterns has been rapid, and something needed to change," Cohen said in an interview. "This is just the beginning of a new model for the internet." Google, for example, has seen its ratio of crawls to visitors referred back to sites drop to 18:1 from 6:1 just six months ago, according to Cloudflare data, suggesting the search giant is maintaining its crawling but decreasing referrals. The decline could be a result of users finding answers directly within Google's search results, such as AI Overviews. Still, Google's ratio is much higher than other AI companies, such as OpenAI's 1,500:1. For decades, search engines have indexed content on the internet directing users back to websites, an approach that rewards creators for producing quality content. However, AI companies' crawlers have disrupted this model because they harvest material without sending visitors to the original source and aggregate information through chatbots such as ChatGPT, depriving creators of revenue and recognition. Many AI companies are circumventing a common web standard used by publishers to block the scraping of their content for use in AI systems, and argue they have broken no laws in accessing content for free. In response, some publishers, including the New York Times, have sued AI companies for copyright infringement, while others have struck deals to license their content.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cloudflare launches tool to help website owners monetize AI bot crawler access
By Krystal Hu NEW YORK (Reuters) -Cloudflare has launched a tool that blocks bot crawlers from accessing content without permission or compensation to help websites make money from AI firms trying to access and train on their content, the software company said on Tuesday. The tool allows website owners to choose whether artificial intelligence crawlers can access their material and set a price for access through a "pay per crawl" model, which will help them control how their work is used and compensated, Cloudflare said. With AI crawlers increasingly collecting content without sending visitors to the original source, website owners are looking to develop additional revenue sources as search traffic referrals that once generated advertising revenue decline. The initiative is supported by major publishers including Condé Nast and Associated Press, as well as social media companies such as Reddit and Pinterest. Cloudflare's Chief Strategy Officer Stephanie Cohen said the goal of such tools was to give publishers control over their content, and ensure a sustainable ecosystem for online content creators and AI companies. "The change in traffic patterns has been rapid, and something needed to change," Cohen said in an interview. "This is just the beginning of a new model for the internet." Google, for example, has seen its ratio of crawls to visitors referred back to sites drop to 18:1 from 6:1 just six months ago, according to Cloudflare data, suggesting the search giant is maintaining its crawling but decreasing referrals. The decline could be a result of users finding answers directly within Google's search results, such as AI Overviews. Still, Google's ratio is much higher than other AI companies, such as OpenAI's 1,500:1. For decades, search engines have indexed content on the internet directing users back to websites, an approach that rewards creators for producing quality content. However, AI companies' crawlers have disrupted this model because they harvest material without sending visitors to the original source and aggregate information through chatbots such as ChatGPT, depriving creators of revenue and recognition. Many AI companies are circumventing a common web standard used by publishers to block the scraping of their content for use in AI systems, and argue they have broken no laws in accessing content for free. In response, some publishers, including the New York Times, have sued AI companies for copyright infringement, while others have struck deals to license their content. Reddit, for example, has sued AI startup Anthropic for allegedly scraping Reddit user comments to train its AI chatbot, while inking a content licensing deal with Google. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Cloudflare launches tool to help website owners monetize AI bot crawler access
NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - Cloudflare has launched a tool that blocks bot crawlers from accessing content without permission or compensation to help websites make money from AI firms trying to access and train on their content, the software company said on Tuesday. The tool allows website owners to choose whether artificial intelligence crawlers can access their material and set a price for access through a "pay per crawl" model, which will help them control how their work is used and compensated, Cloudflare said. With AI crawlers increasingly collecting content without sending visitors to the original source, website owners are looking to develop additional revenue sources as search traffic referrals that once generated advertising revenue decline. The initiative is supported by major publishers including Condé Nast and Associated Press, as well as social media companies such as Reddit and Pinterest. Cloudflare's Chief Strategy Officer Stephanie Cohen said the goal of such tools was to give publishers control over their content, and ensure a sustainable ecosystem for online content creators and AI companies. "The change in traffic patterns has been rapid, and something needed to change," Cohen said in an interview. "This is just the beginning of a new model for the internet." Google, for example, has seen its ratio of crawls to visitors referred back to sites drop to 18:1 from 6:1 just six months ago, according to Cloudflare data, suggesting the search giant is maintaining its crawling but decreasing referrals. The decline could be a result of users finding answers directly within Google's search results, such as AI Overviews. Still, Google's ratio is much higher than other AI companies, such as OpenAI's 1,500:1. For decades, search engines have indexed content on the internet directing users back to websites, an approach that rewards creators for producing quality content. However, AI companies' crawlers have disrupted this model because they harvest material without sending visitors to the original source and aggregate information through chatbots such as ChatGPT, depriving creators of revenue and recognition. Many AI companies are circumventing a common web standard used by publishers to block the scraping of their content for use in AI systems, and argue they have broken no laws in accessing content for free. In response, some publishers, including the New York Times, have sued AI companies for copyright infringement, while others have struck deals to license their content. Reddit, for example, has sued AI startup Anthropic for allegedly scraping Reddit user comments to train its AI chatbot, while inking a content licensing deal with Google.
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Third Wave: AI And Web3 Are Changing Commerce At Amazon & QVC
Every TV show becomes a shop-able moment with Edge Video and AI When I was at AWS working on Cloud and AI, I spent time helping partners unlock the value of marketplaces—connecting buyers and sellers in more meaningful ways, simplifying transactions, and showing how digital platforms could transform traditional sales models. It taught me something powerful: when you reduce friction and deliver relevance at the right moment, commerce becomes invisible—and incredibly scalable. That same dynamic is now unfolding in the media. I'm always watching shows like Bridgerton or Emily in Paris and thinking, I wish I could buy that stunning dress or find that sleek Vespa they were riding. Or I'll be watching Outer Range or Yellowstone and wonder where to get that exact vintage jacket or rustic canoe. During a recent conversation with Joe Ward, CEO of Edge Video AI, I was introduced to Edge Video AI—a platform that turns any video stream into a living, breathing storefront. It's where watching becomes shopping and viewing becomes doing. Think of it as the next generation of monetization for content creators and media giants alike. Moving Beyond Ads and Subscriptions With AI For years, media companies have leaned on two business models: advertising and subscriptions. But both have limits. Ads fatigue users. Subscriptions are saturating the market. Viewers are seeking better experiences. Edge Video AI offers a third path: transactional media. It transforms video content into an interactive commerce layer, where AI matches relevant products to what's happening on screen. A single persistent QR code links the viewer's mobile device to the content—making everything instantly shoppable. Watching a beach scene? You might see travel excursions, swimsuits, or sunscreen appear—exactly when the viewer is most inspired. With one scan, you're browsing or buying without leaving the screen. Or check out the below from a TV show with your favorite actor. You can click and purchase that same leather jacket on your mobile device live. Watching a TV show means that you can now find that leather jacket or jeans worn by your favorite ... More actor In chatting with Robert Scoble, an AI Futurist, he told me that "we're witnessing the death of passive content. The future of media isn't just something you watch—it's something you engage with, shop from, and participate in. Real-time AI is turning every frame into a storefront and every viewer into a customer. This isn't just innovation—it's the reinvention of entertainment as an interactive, commerce-driven experience." And it works. One purchase can generate the same revenue as 300 traditional ads. Why AI Works: Relevance, Trust, and Mobile Edge succeeds by tapping into three converging trends: The model is already live with QVC, Amazon, and InTravel, and attracting attention from global players like Google. Any media company can onboard in days—Edge provides the QR layer and product feed, and the content starts working harder. This isn't just an innovation in tech—it's a shift in user experience design. Web3 Adds the Engagement Layer To Edge's AI What takes Edge to the next level is its Web3 integration. Gamified experiences—like quizzes based on what's happening in the video—reward users with points. Those points convert into blockchain-based tokens (like FAST, available on and Polygon), which can be redeemed for discounts, access, or even NFT-style digital assets. The experience transforms viewers from passive audiences into active participants—blurring the lines between media, commerce, and gaming. And it's wallet-enabled from the start. Tokens are stored in decentralized wallets like MetaMask, meaning users keep control—and brands gain loyalty through participation, not interruption. The AI Business Model Built for Scale Edge Video AI is quietly reshaping the media landscape by embedding real-time shopping directly into broadcast and on-demand video. Unlike traditional models that rely on manual tagging or interruptive overlays, Edge's fully automated, patent-backed system enables commerce to happen seamlessly within video content itself. Edge Video AI is already live with Intravel and DangerTV, and is rolling out across two major national media networks and five regional or mid-sized platform has integrations with over 21,000 vendors and access to more than 15 million products, including from giants like Amazon and Viator. The company's approach is designed for simplicity—deployment takes just hours, and it layers onto existing content without altering production workflows. Media partners see revenue shares ranging from 35 to 55 percent, along with optional setup fees and GDPR-compliant privacy protections. For an industry under pressure to find new revenue models, Edge Video AI offers a compelling case: commerce that doesn't interrupt, but integrates. It's a model designed to be additive, not disruptive—meaning it layers onto existing content without requiring major workflow changes. It's also built for scale: from major broadcasters to niche creators, anyone with video can now drive direct revenue from it. Web3 and AI Moves From Intention to Action What makes this moment different from past shop-able media attempts is the convergence of maturity in three spaces: It's the next evolution of how we connect attention to action. In a discussion with Joe Ward, the CEO, Edge Video AI, he said that "we believe content should work harder—for creators and for viewers. Our AI doesn't just watch video, it understands it, and instantly connects it to products people care about. Whether you're streaming on your phone or wearing AR glasses, the experience is seamless, contextual, and rewarding. This is where storytelling meets commerce—and where creators finally get paid when their influence drives action." Joe Ward, CEO of Edge Video Ai As someone who's helped build platforms at the intersection of technology and commerce—from enterprise ecosystems to decentralized identity—I see Edge Video AI as part of a broader shift from attention-based economies to intention-driven experiences. The Downsides Of AI But as with any technological leap, there are trade-offs worth considering. When every moment of entertainment becomes a moment of monetization, we risk blurring the line between storytelling and salesmanship. There's a fine balance between offering convenience and fostering consumption fatigue—especially when AI determines what we see and when. While shop-able content can feel seamless, it may also erode the escapism that draws people to media in the first place. If every sunset scene becomes a travel ad and every stylish outfit a product pitch, creators and audiences alike may start to feel the weight of commercial saturation. The challenge moving forward will be ensuring that utility doesn't come at the cost of authenticity. The New Revenue That AI Brings Helping partners realize the value of marketplaces at AWS gave me a front-row seat to how digital experiences can create exponential outcomes. What I'm seeing now in the media world feels just as pivotal. Edge Video AI isn't just turning content into a storefront. It's turning engagement into revenue and viewers into participants. It's building a path where content creators can scale without more ads or more paywalls—and where consumers can enjoy, interact, and transact in one fluid motion. The marketplace of the future isn't a website or an app—it's wherever our attention lives. And for media, that future just got a lot closer. Did you enjoy this story about AI and Web3's impact on revenue for shopping? Don't miss my next one: Use the blue follow button at the top of the article near my byline to follow more of my work.
