The companies will leverage each other's
strengths in digital publishing and technology to accelerate growth
in the era of AI
REDMOND, Wash., and
BERLIN, April 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Axel Springer SE
and Microsoft Corp. have announced an expanded, multifaceted
partnership across advertising, AI, content and cloud computing.
The cooperation aims to leverage cutting-edge innovation to support
independent journalism around the world.
The partnership will expand and deepen the existing cooperation
on different levels. The existing adtech collaboration will be
expanded to encompass POLITICO. Building on a mutual commitment to
the principles and potential of responsible AI, both companies will
partner to develop new AI-driven experiences for their users. In
addition, Microsoft Start-MSN users will have access to more
premium content from Axel Springer's
news brands, and Axel Springer will
migrate its SAP solutions to Microsoft Azure.
"In this new era of AI, partnerships are critical to preserving
and promoting independent journalism while ensuring a thriving
media landscape," said Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer. "We're optimistic about the
future of journalism and the opportunities we can unlock through
this expanded partnership with Microsoft."
"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 with
Axel Springer brings together their
leadership in digital publishing with the full power of the
Microsoft Cloud — including our ad solutions — to build innovative
AI-driven experiences and create new opportunity for advertisers
and users."
Key elements of the partnership
- Extending adtech collaboration to the U.S.: Axel Springer will adopt Microsoft
Advertising as its ad server solution, expanding its existing
partnership from Europe to the
U.S. POLITICO will integrate Microsoft Advertising technology as a
comprehensive solution enhanced by Axel
Springer's adtech management and optimization layer AdLib.
POLITICO will also be integrated into the Microsoft Advertising
Network, allowing advertisers to reach a broader audience.
- Powering new AI experiences and monetization:
Axel Springer will partner with
Microsoft to pilot new innovative AI-driven chat experiences to
better inform and engage their users with Axel Springer's journalistic content. The
cooperation will further fuel Axel
Springer's ventures in AI, building on projects such as the
AI assistant Hey_, powered among others by Azure OpenAI Service. In
addition, Axel Springer will
leverage Microsoft Advertising's Chat Ads API for generative AI
monetization.
- Enhanced content offerings through Microsoft Start-MSN:
Axel Springer is expanding its
Microsoft Start-MSN partnership to provide users with access to
more premium content from leading journalistic brands such as
Business Insider, POLITICO, BILD and WELT, reaching millions of
users across devices and markets.
- Microsoft Azure expansion: In addition to extending its
use of Azure AI capabilities for AI innovation, the digital
publisher will also transform and migrate its SAP
solutions to Microsoft Azure, the trusted and secure cloud
platform, to enhance scalability, reliability and performance
across its digital infrastructure.
About Axel
Springer
Axel Springer is a media and
technology company and active in more than 40 countries. By
providing information across its diverse media brands (among others
BILD, WELT, BUSINESS INSIDER, POLITICO) and classifieds portals
(The Stepstone Group and AVIV Group), Axel
Springer empowers people to make free decisions for their
lives.
The company has successfully transformed from a traditional
print media company to Europe's
leading digital publisher. Through accelerated growth, Axel Springer aims to become the global market
leader in digital content and digital classifieds. The company is
headquartered in Berlin and
employs more than 18,000 people worldwide.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) creates platforms and tools
powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the
evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is
committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly,
with a mission to empower every person and every organization on
the planet to achieve more.
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