The Media Copilot The Writing Renaissance: Tony Stubblebine on Medium’s Human Future in the Age of AI
Oct 24, 2025
Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium, discusses the evolving landscape of writing in an AI-influenced world. He argues that AI can enhance creativity rather than replace it, signaling a writing renaissance. The conversation touches on the shift from free-content economics to smaller writing communities, the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) standard for negotiating with AI, and the potential for AI tools to increase writers’ productivity. Stubblebine believes this era will deepen connections between writers and their audiences.
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Medium As A Platform For Everyday Experts
- Medium positions itself as a writing platform for everyone, emphasizing expert amateurs as vital voices.
- Tony Stubblebine says the business thrives on people writing about their jobs for professional development.
The Missing Social Contract For AI
- AI companies trained on public content without offering the internet's usual exchange of value like traffic or credit.
- Tony warns that absent a social contract, public publishing may retreat into private spaces.
Use A Standard To Signal Licensing Terms
- Adopt a standardized way to communicate licensing terms so AI systems know the allowed use of content.
- Use a machine-readable protocol like RSL to negotiate access instead of ad hoc deals, Tony recommends.