Recent times have been filled with a great deal of technological chatter, with consistent advances being made in the AI and machine learning space. Apart from the average bot that carries out simple tasks online, humans now have access to a large array of choices in advanced language model artificial intelligence. The launch of cutting-edge chatbots like ChatGPT stoked fears about AI and automation algorithms taking over several human-centric tasks that are carried out in numerous domains today. Journalism was one among these, where people were quick to speculate on how AI writing could replace journalists and other newsroom professionals. But is that really the case? Probably not. Several months after the advent of the language model boom, humans are now more aware of the numerous shortcomings of chatbot-based artificial intelligence. However, concerns surrounding AI journalism and AI news are still founded in legitimacy as the current geopolitical climate the world subsists in calls for greater vigilance and awareness.
That being said, there is considerable evidence and history of AI usage in the news industry from long before the arrival of chatbots and other language model-based artificial intelligence. Humans have utilized AI to simplify a few monotonous and tedious tasks while freeing up time and enhancing productivity. The same applies to news AI and other algorithm-based tools that are currently being deployed in the modern newsroom. Humans have gone from scribbling local events on clay tablets to preparing briefing scrolls, to developing newspapers, before being catapulted into the digital age where civilization is never truly away from the goings-on in the world. The further utilization of AI in the news industry will only change this domain further.
The Current Status of AI in the News: Is AI News Content Already a Reality?
Despite prevalent fears, AI is not set to replace human journalists and panelists.
AI has been utilized for a few tasks in the news industry since before the current conceptualization and development of chatbots. Large news firms such as the Associated Press and Reuters have utilized AI for a variety of purposes such as automating repetitive stories to save time and to generate more personalized news content to provide transcripts and captions for existing videos. Clearly, AI has been in the news industry for a fairly long time, and current developments only present more prospects for the technology’s utilization. Generative AI provides journalists and newsroom presenters with more wiggle room when it comes to drafting novel ideas and new means to present them. This prospect, however, caused great concern in journalism circles when CNET chose to publish numerous AI-generated articles as an experiment. The errors in the articles then reaffirmed fears surrounding the outstanding deficiencies in current AI models. It also brought about increased concern in the general public about content they consume and whether or not it was generated by AI. AI-generated content can still be rife with pitfalls such as hallucination and bias. Industry experts and veterans are well aware of them and are still wary of inducting AI into mainstream journalistic practices.
Alternative AI technologies such as Deep Fake and image generation algorithms such as Midjourney and Dall-E are also of specific interest and concern to media houses. With the risk of encountering disinformation and fake news still at an all-time high, such technologies in the hands of ulterior actors can only cause further damage to existing balances in society. However, despite the many drawbacks of artificial intelligence and chatbots, prudent and regulated usage of current AI algorithms can still be leveraged to benefit the news industry and might even raise the quality of reporting. Responsible AI and artificial intelligence algorithms based on ethical precepts will be a quintessential requirement if AI news seeks to become a mainstream model.
Will AI Replace Journalists? Speculating on the Possible Roles of News AI
Despite its drawbacks, AI can provide useful aids to journalists and broadcasters.
Unlike common fears, ChatGPT journalism and other fantastical possibilities might indeed not come to be. Neither will AI replace human journalists, for the profession requires the faculties of critical thinking and pointed inquiry. However, AI might ease the burden on the profession by simplifying and automating a few accessory tasks. Some of the possibilities are detailed below:
1.Transcription and Translation
AI in news might be able to streamline the processes of transcribing and translating broadcasts and articles. While there already exist numerous AI bots that perform these tasks, advanced natural language processing will only make this easier and better for news firms.
2. Spotting Trends
A big part of the news industry is to closely watch and track what people are interested in. Surveys and polls generate large amounts of data. Using AI-based technologies such as big data algorithms and analytics can help journalists and analysts speed up the process while maintaining accuracy.
3. Tackling Disinformation
While it is known that AI can be misused to spread fake news and disinformation, AI can also be used ethically to weed out false reports and misrepresented facts. AI in news trained to analyze vast volumes of data will be able to verify and debunk malicious reports.
4. Rapid Content Generation
Journalists sometimes end up spending hours or even days analyzing complex reports and documents. They might even have to enlist specialist help to truly understand the discussions contained within the documents of concern. Technologies like AI assistants and AI search engines can change this by providing pointed and easily accessible information from high authority sources for journalists to access.
What Can We Expect from AI News and Journalism?
Tight regulations and norms will be needed to monitor the use of AI in journalistic circles and firms.
Despite extant AI technologies in journalism and the news broadcasting industry, the true potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms remains yet to be realized. Both experts and the general public still remain largely skeptical about AI being involved in information dissemination and rightly so. Unless there exists a strict protocol for the use and deployment of AI in news, mainstreaming of these technologies will not elicit trust in the masses. Moreover, if AI must become a tool for the average journalist in the industry, journalism education must be revamped to provide future professionals with the necessary AI skills to deal with an increasingly digitized market. Regardless, AI in news must only be deployed as a tool to aid human efficiency and prudence, and as an effective aid to enhance existing knowledge and quality of news presented to people.