Axel Springer and Microsoft have agreed on an expanded, comprehensive partnership in the areas of commercialization, artificial intelligence (AI), content and cloud computing. The collaboration aims to leverage technological innovation to strengthen independent journalism worldwide.
Axel Springer and Microsoft expand partnership in the areas of marketing, AI, content and Azure
The partnership will expand and deepen existing cooperation at various levels. The existing AdTech cooperation will be expanded to include POLITICO in the future. Based on their shared understanding of the principles and possibilities of responsibly used AI, the two companies will work together to develop new AI-driven applications for their users. In addition, users will have access to more premium content from Axel Springer’s news brands via Microsoft Start/MSN. In addition, the media company will migrate its SAP solutions to Microsoft Azure.
“In the new age of AI, partnerships are crucial to preserve and promote independent journalism and a thriving media landscape,” said Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer. “We are optimistic about the future of journalism and the opportunities that this expanded partnership with Microsoft will open up for us.”
“This new generation of AI is transforming nearly every aspect of work and life, including how people search for and consume content online,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft. “Our expanded partnership combines Axel Springer’s leadership in digital journalism with the full power of the Microsoft cloud – including our go-to-market solutions – to create innovative AI-driven experiences and unlock new opportunities for advertisers and users.”
Important elements of the partnership are:
- Expansion of AdTech cooperation with POLITICO: Axel Springer will take over Microsoft Advertising as an ad server solution and extend the existing partnership from Europe to the USA. POLITICO will integrate Microsoft marketing technology as a comprehensive solution, reinforced by Axel Springer’s AdTech management and optimization layer “AdLib”. POLITICO will be integrated into Microsoft’s marketing network, which will enable advertisers to reach a wider audience.
- New AI applications and monetization: Axel Springer will work with Microsoft to test innovative AI-based chat experiences in which users can be informed and interacted with Axel Springer’s journalistic content. In addition, the partnership will further advance Axel Springer’s AI initiatives, building on projects such as the AI assistant Hey_, which is based, among other things, on the Azure OpenAI service. In addition, Axel Springer will use Microsoft Advertising’s Chat Ads API to monetize generative AI.
- Additional content offerings through Microsoft Start/MSN: Axel Springer is expanding its partnership with Microsoft Start/MSN to provide users with access to more premium content from leading journalistic brands such as Business Insider, POLITICO, BILD, WELT and ONET, reaching millions of users across devices and markets.
- Microsoft Azure Extension: In addition to leveraging Azure AI capabilities for AI innovation, Axel Springer will also transform and migrate its SAP solutions to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform to improve scalability, reliability, and performance in digital infrastructure.
