University Presses Back Meridian AI Research Gateway

Cambridge University Press, Johns Hopkins University Press and Princeton University Press are the founding publishers of Meridian, a scholarly content service run by Cashmere, according to Publishers Weekly. The service lets AI tools answer research questions using books and journals covered by a library's existing licenses.

Meridian allows compatible AI tools to retrieve peer reviewed material, cite its source and direct users to the published version through their library. Content accessed through Meridian cannot be used to train AI models, resold or passed on to other companies.

The service uses Anthropic's Model Context Protocol, allowing publishers to connect their catalogs to any compatible AI tool through one interface. Publishers can remove titles, monitor queries and citations, and receive compensation when companies license their content. Libraries will receive usage reports in the COUNTER format.

The founding publishers will add their catalogs in November, followed by a limited test with libraries and institutions later this fall. Cashmere has committed to running the platform for at least two years. Cashmere and the presses form an advisory council that will become Meridian's board when the service incorporates as an independent nonprofit.