Axel Springer, the German publishing giant, has announced the closure of its news outlet Upday. The decision is part of a broader plan to reposition Upday as a "trend news generator" leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). The current iteration of Upday is set to cease operations by the end of this year, paving the way for the revamped AI-powered service scheduled to launch in the summer of 2024.

The transformation comes with job cuts, as the company stated that positions at Upday are being eliminated during the transition. A spokesperson mentioned that efforts would be made to explore opportunities for affected staff within the broader Axel Springer group. With an initial workforce of 150, only 70 members will remain, signaling the significant restructuring underway. Axel Springer aims to delve into the potential that artificial intelligence offers for journalism and the news industry, indicating a forward-looking approach to the evolving media landscape.

Upday, which had been pre-installed on Samsung cell phones through a 2015 deal between Axel Springer and the South Korean tech company, had expanded its presence across 34 European countries. As part of Axel Springer's broader strategy, the company, known for owning popular German tabloids Bild and Welt, as well as the US political news website Politico, aims to transition from traditional print media to a digital news format, aligning itself with the changing dynamics of the media industry.