The Next Wave of AI & Media Deals
My Predictions on AI/Media Mergers & Acquisitions by end of 2026
Last week I wrote about The Great Content Consolidation in AI & media happening in 2025 and 2026.
This week I name names — I predict mergers and acquisitions and why.
I include some “Wild Speculation” deals including Sam Altman taking over Apple.
Note: I’m not including huge licensing deals like the ones I shared in 5 Takeaways from the AI Content Licensing Deals I'm Tracking (34 deals).
Enjoy.
10-Second Takeaways
The Next Wave of AI & Media Deals
1. Big Tech Buys More AI Companies
Buyers
Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta will solidify their dominance by acquiring or deeply integrating with top AI startups.
Sellers
AI foundation model companies: Anthropic, Mistral AI, Stability AI
AI-powered creative platforms: Midjourney, Runway
AI startups needing cloud resources: Anthropic (AWS), Runway (Microsoft)
Why?
AI leaders want:
✅ Exclusive access to cutting-edge models
✅ Deep AI integration into cloud & business ecosystems
Possible Deals
Amazon + Anthropic – Amazon has already put $8B into Anthropic. Like OpenAI (Microsoft) and Gemini (Google Cloud), Anthropic needs AWS to scale.
Google + Midjourney – AI image generation integrated into Google Search, YouTube thumbnails, and ad tools.
Microsoft + Runway – AI-powered video creation inside Azure & LinkedIn to compete with Google DeepMind’s video AI.
Amazon + Mistral AI – Open-source AI model to challenge OpenAI and give AWS a homegrown AI powerhouse.
💡 Wild Speculation:
🃏 Microsoft buys OpenAI – Microsoft already owns 49%. OpenAI’s messy restructuring into a for-profit company makes a full buyout an easy exit strategy.
🃏 Apple buys OpenAI – Instead of improving Siri, Apple buys OpenAI (a sort of NeXT-like deal). Sam Altman becomes Chief AI Officer of Apple and then CEO the next time Apple’s stock stumbles.
🃏 Meta acquires Stability AI – Meta integrates open-source AI models to enhance AI-generated content for social media, ad targeting, and engagement.
2. Media Buys Media
Buyers
Disney, Comcast/NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery will consolidate for scale and efficiency.
Sellers
Struggling streaming services: Peacock, Paramount+ (note: Skydance is currently closing its deal to buy all of Paramount).
News publishers: Regional papers, digital-first sites
Cash-hungry studios: Warner Bros. Discovery unloading assets
Why?
Cord-cutting and ad struggles mean only the biggest will survive.
High content costs make mergers inevitable.
Possible Deals
Peacock + Max (HBO) – Comcast’s NBCUniversal merges with Warner Bros. Discovery to challenge Netflix & Disney+.
Amazon + Paramount+ – Prime Video absorbs another major content library (this could happen if Skydance acquisition of Paramount falls through or maybe either way)
NY Times + Perplexity AI – AI-powered journalism meets legacy credibility.
💡 Wild Speculation:
🃏 Apple buys Disney – Bob Iger’s "end game" could be Apple taking over the Mouse House.
🃏 Netflix buys A24 – Prestige indie studio joins streaming’s strongest brand.
3. AI and Social Media Merge
Buyers
Meta, Snapchat, Twitter (X), and Pinterest will acquire AI startups to enhance content creation, personalization, and engagement.
Sellers
AI video generation startups: Runway, Synthesia
AI-powered avatars & personalization tools: Soul Machines
AI-assisted content moderation startups: Spectrum Labs, Hive AI
Why?
Social platforms thrive on engagement, and AI makes content creation effortless.
Possible Deals
Meta + Soul Machines – AI-powered lifelike avatars for the metaverse & Reels.
Meta + Synthesia – AI avatars & video automation for creators.
Meta + Runway – AI-powered video for Reels & Instagram.
Snapchat + Pinterest – AI-driven discovery & social commerce powerhouse.
X (Twitter) + Pika Labs – AI-driven video boosts short-form content.
💡 Wild Speculation:
🃏 X (Twitter) merges with xAI – Musk’s social & AI vision fully converge.
4. AI Deals in News and Journalism
Buyers
Reuters, The New York Times, and Dow Jones will acquire AI startups to automate reporting, enhance content personalization, and combat misinformation.
Sellers
AI-powered fact-checking tools: Reality Defender, Truepic
AI-generated news summary platforms: Perplexity AI, Artifact
Automated journalism startups: Narrative Science, Automated Insights
Why?
AI helps newsrooms scale, verify facts, and personalize content.
Possible Deals
Reuters + Reality Defender – AI detects deepfake news before it spreads.
Dow Jones + Perplexity AI – AI-powered news summaries inside The Wall Street Journal and Factiva.
The New York Times + Automated Insights – AI writes earnings reports and sports recaps.
💡 Wild Speculation:
🃏 The Washington Post acquires Satchel AI – AI distills government meetings into essential insights, enhancing local coverage.
🃏 BuzzFeed merges with Artifact – AI-driven viral news content tailored for modern audiences.
🃏 Google funds an AI fact-checking coalition – Industry-wide collaboration against misinformation.
5. Streaming Platforms Integrating AI
Buyers
Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ will use AI to enhance content creation, personalization, and delivery.
Sellers
AI dubbing & localization startups: Papercup, Respeecher
AI scriptwriting & production assistants: Sudowrite, Charisma.ai
AI-driven content recommendation engines: Jinni, Watchworthy
Why?
AI reduces costs, improves personalization, and expands global reach.
Possible Deals
Netflix + Papercup – AI-powered dubbing brings global content to new audiences.
Disney + Charisma.ai – AI-generated storytelling for animated and interactive shows.
Spotify + Amper Music – AI-generated personalized soundtracks for users.
💡 Wild Speculation:
🃏 Warner Bros. Discovery acquires Wonder Dynamics – AI-generated CGI reduces film budgets.
🃏 Amazon Prime Video acquires Sudowrite – AI-assisted screenwriting for original productions.
🃏 Disney acquires Fable Studio – AI-driven storytelling revolutionizes animated content.
6. AI-Powered Advertising & Marketing
Buyers
Google, Meta, Amazon, TikTok, Salesforce, Netflix, Publicis Groupe, and Omnicom will use AI to automate digital advertising.
Sellers
AI-driven ad targeting platforms: AdPredictive, Black Crow AI
AI content generation for marketing: Jasper AI, Copy.ai
AI influencer analytics & social ad platforms: CreatorIQ, Traackr
AI-powered ad agencies: S4 Capital, WPP AI, Publicis Sapient
Why?
AI boosts efficiency, personalization, and real-time campaign execution.
Possible Deals
Google + Jasper AI – AI-generated ad copy seamlessly integrates into Google Ads.
Meta + CreatorIQ – AI-driven influencer marketing embedded into Facebook & Instagram ads.
💡 Wild Speculation:
🃏 TikTok acquires Captions – AI-powered video editing & translation enhances user-generated content.
Don’t Sleep on these Merger Maniacs
There are also these CEOs who love deal-making.
Some (like Diller and Murdoch) might seem old to you. But watch it…they’re killers.
Barry Diller (Chairman, IAC & Expedia) – Media mogul with a history of digital acquisitions (The Daily Beast, Dotdash Meredith). Could spin off legacy assets or buy AI-driven media companies.
Rupert Murdoch (Chairman Emeritus, News Corp & Fox Corporation) – Stepped down as executive chairman in 2023 but still influential. News Corp may explore AI-driven news aggregation, fact-checking, or acquisitions in digital publishing.
Lachlan Murdoch (CEO, Fox Corporation) – Overseeing a potential restructuring of Fox; could seek AI-enhanced content partnerships or spin off legacy news assets.
David Ellison (CEO of Skydance) — He will be in the mix one way or another. If Skydance succeeds in buying Paramount, he’ll likely sell non-strategic assets such as CBS News (which taquilla tycoon John Paul DeJoria has shown interest in)
Roger Lynch (CEO, Condé Nast) – Runs major media brands (Wired, Vogue, The New Yorker); could acquire AI-powered content automation tools.
Jim Bankoff (CEO, Vox Media) – Leads a major digital media player (The Verge, New York Magazine) that could integrate AI-powered journalism or merge with another digital publisher.
Jonah Peretti (CEO, BuzzFeed Inc.) – Has already experimented with AI-generated content; could pivot toward AI-driven news automation or sell parts of BuzzFeed.
Jeff Zucker (CEO, RedBird IMI) – Former CNN chief now leading a media investment firm; actively seeking acquisitions in AI-driven news and sports media.
Thx for reading!
Rob Kelly, Creator & Host of Media & the Machine
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