Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, it’s no secret that technology has come a long way in the last few decades. From the early days of the internet and the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) to being able to complete a Masters in Journalism online, the changes we’ve seen are nothing short of incredible.
Artificial intelligence is already changing industries, but what about the newsroom? In the next year or so, we expect to see AI playing an even more significant role in journalism, streamlining processes while posing challenges that will need to be addressed.
This article will explore how artificial intelligence is being used in journalism, and we’ll also explore the implications and potential challenges of AI in journalism and suggest ways for it to be implemented with measure.
So, continue reading to learn more about this topic.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is a combination of many different technologies working together to enable machines (computers, in most cases) to sense, act, comprehend, and learn with human-like levels of intelligence. Maybe that’s why it seems as though a few different definitions are floating about; AI isn’t just one thing.
Technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing are all part of the AI landscape. Each one is evolving along its own path and, when applied in combination with data, analytics, and automation, can help businesses, including news and media businesses, achieve their goals.
AI is Not Brand New to the News
Before generative AI emerged in the popular landscape, news organizations and businesses were already using machine learning and some forms of AI technology to assist them with tasks such as social media monitoring, managing large datasets used in news stories, and organizing software engineering workflows for digital products.
Reporters have long benefited from natural language processing-based transcription services like Otter and Trint to assist them with research and note-taking during interviews. News organizations and companies have also used AI algorithms from platforms such as ChartBeat and CrowdTangle to efficiently and effectively analyze audience engagement and track trending topics on social media and other platforms.
Some early experiments, such as the AI-powered news app Artifact, teased some of the potential methods AI might use to make news more fun, with features like summarizing news in the tone and style of Gen Z slang.
In addition, the use of AI tools enabled journalists to scale up their reporting effectively, cut down on boring and drudgy busywork, and help them decipher relationships or patterns within data they’re scraping from various sources.
Generative AI in Journalism
The novelty that generative AI introduces to the journalistic landscape is that it can actually produce content such as written text, video, audio, and images. In some use cases, generative AI tools can help editors and reporters translate and transform their stories for different distribution channels for various audiences. However, there is a risk here, as bad actors can also hijack generative AI technology to produce disinformation and deep fakes, which makes journalists’ jobs harder as they are tasked with reporting on the objective truth.
Some Other Problems with AI Use in Journalism
It’s not hard to see some of the immediate problems with using AI to write articles instead of a human journalist. The most immediate problem is that AI simply can’t be present in places the same way a journalist can, where they can report firsthand on major issues such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, or other major social issues. Part of the commitment to accuracy in journalism is firsthand knowledge and primary sources.
Another major problem is that generative AI sources its content from across the web and, at times, plagiarizes other people’s work. Using generative AI to write articles without editing or checking them could result in a plagiarism lawsuit for a news organization.
The other major problem is that AI writing is formulaic, boring, and, at its core, not as engaging as content written by a human journalist. A good story will have hooks to keep you reading and be filled with human tone, cadence, and rhythm. The use of AI in journalism stifles the creativity that real human journalists bring to the table.
How Might AI Be Used With Measure?
As we’ve described above, the best method for using AI in journalism is to reduce busywork and boring tasks. AI transcription is fine, and AI editing tools such as Grammarly should also be fine. This is also acceptable in data analysis and media monitoring. However, for the real, human work of research, writing, and fact-checking, it should be a human-first approach.
Another way AI might be used is to assist journalists with aspects of their work that aren’t directly related to reporting and writing. For instance, a journalist might ask for AI assistance to create formulas for a spreadsheet or for tips on using a new software program.
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