Article published in forbes.com
When Artificial Intelligence (AI) is mentioned in the news, most people think of disinformation and misinformation. While phenomena like deepfakes and bots that create fake news are real, AI is also being used for more useful and practical purposes that make journalism more efficient and accurate.
How AI is improving news writing
One of the most common ways AI is being used in journalism is in automated news creation. Language models, capable of producing a variety of content in text, images, video, and audio, are being used to create articles on topics such as sports, finance, local politics, and weather. Through the ability to process and synthesize data, AI can create well-organized reports that cover topics that human journalists don’t have time to cover.
Despite its many advantages, the use of AI in news production raises several concerns, including the risk of AI making factual errors and replacing journalists. A practical approach is to distinguish between data-driven news and investigative reporting, the latter requiring genuine journalistic skills.
Personalization of news consumption
For the news consumer, AI brings advanced personalization, creating news feeds tailored to each user’s personal interests. This personalization helps increase engagement and revenue for media outlets. However, there is concern that this personalization could create “echo chambers,” where users only see content that reinforces their existing views.
Improving journalism practice
Beyond news creation and consumption, AI is also helping with the practical aspects of journalism. Its ability to analyze big data and produce content in different formats helps newsrooms deliver richer, more interactive content to their audiences. AI is also helping with routine tasks like transcribing interviews, translating content into different languages, and managing social media posts.
In summary, AI is transforming journalism by making it more sustainable and effective. Although there are still challenges to be addressed, the benefits of AI for the news industry are numerous and significant.