Article published in goethe.de
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is fundamentally changing journalism, including moderating reader comments to foster constructive discussion and eliminate harassment and abuse. Many news organizations are using AI tools to ensure a safe and civil environment for their users.
One example is the German company NOZ, which has integrated AI software Conversario to filter and moderate reader comments. Joachim Dreykluft, head of HHLab, says the system is improving every day. “My colleague who manages the community still interacts with the AI, suggesting: ‘This comment shouldn’t have been hidden,’ or ‘This one should be hidden.’ The AI is learning and improving every day,” he says.
In an era of increasing disinformation, tackling the challenges posed by deepfakes is increasingly important. Lisa Gibbs stresses that newsrooms must respond aggressively to these challenges. Media organizations like Reuters have begun using AI to create fully automated sports news, presented in real time by virtual presenters.
Trust is key to maintaining relationships with the public and securing subscriptions. Jarno Koponen from Yle underlines the importance of transparency regarding the use of AI in journalism: “We serve citizens best when they are part of an open dialogue about what works and what needs to be improved.” Every article created by a robot journalist it is announced within the article.
In an environment where information is often questioned, transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining integrity and trust in modern journalism.