News Corp’s Chief Executive Robert Thomson warned Thursday that artificial intelligence businesses must pay for the data and journalism they use, as the company reported revenue and profit increases in its first quarter.

“Creativity and content must not be stolen, but purchased for a reasonable price,” Thomson said in a Thursday statement.

“Information and sophisticated data are the essence of AI, and without these essential ingredients, AI is but empty, ignorant infrastructure,” the exec added. “Electricity without alacrity. Buildings without billings. Chips without chops.”

The comments came as News Corp, the parent company of The Post, reported higher fiscal first-quarter earnings, led by gains at Dow Jones and its digital real estate businesses.

News Corp’s revenue for the quarter

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