This could be a turning point for media: not all content should be free—especially in the age of AI overload.

The “free + ads” model no longer holds—ad revenue is shrinking, platforms are disengaging, and AI is devouring open content for training. Free is starting to mean low-quality, not accessible.

Paywalls aren’t perfect, but they may be the last line of defense for value, integrity, and sustainability in journalism.

Key questions we should ask: How can we build pay models that don’t shut out readers? What kinds of content can outlast or outmatch AI? Is there a middle ground between open and locked?

Free access should remain a goal—but not at the cost of quality or creators. Otherwise, we’re left digging through noise for the truth.

So she predicts a new era of paywalls in the media sector. We'll see soon enough, I suppose.