Media News

How the FT uses AI to boost subscriptions

September 29, 2025

Posted by Chris Roush

The Financial Times has increased subscription conversion rates by almost 300% by personalizing the paywall messaging and offers people see depending on their past activity and preferences, reports Charlotte Tobitt of Press Gazette.

Tobitt reports, “However, when it comes to editorial content, the FT is focused on ‘tailored experiences’ created by human editors rather than AI-personalised feeds.

“Fiona Spooner, managing director of consumer revenue at the FT, said this was because ‘you don’t want to lose the serendipity that comes with editorial influence.’

“Spooner was speaking on a panel about reader data at Press Gazette’s Future of Media Technology Conference in London on 11 September alongside leaders from Reach, The Independent and publisher software company Full Fat Things.

“The FT reported 1.35 million digital subscribers in its latest financial results, up from 1.28m in 2023.”

Read more here.

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