Following the rapid growth and distribution of AI models such as ChatGPT and other generative AIs, issues with tech integration continually pose industry concerns. Whether in multimedia, entertainment or journalism, fear-mongering creates a stigmatization around AI usage.
Some institutions have implemented no-AI policies because of concerns about credibility and ethics. However, through correct utilization, AI can inspire and resolve gaps in inefficiencies, sparking innovation.
AI is quickly making its way into the newsroom, improving journalistic reporting. Major outlets such as Bloomberg, the Houston Chronicle and BBC News are paving the way for AI tools to support their journalists in keeping the community informed.
Shreyan Daulat, finance and Plan II sophomore, and Renil Gupta, computer science and business honors sophomore, founded a start-up called BeatNews.ai, a tool that helps newsrooms monitor hundreds of primary source websites in real time.
Daulat explains that while his start-up uses AI, its purpose is not generating articles; it’s about giving journalists a head start.
“(It lets) them catch updates faster, so they can … focus on reporting and context, rather than sourcing,” he said.
One of the many misconceptions about artificial intelligence is its usage. Tools like these can make the writing process easier for journalists, leading to better quality work. Even Otter.ai streamlines the reporting process by creating a transcript of interview material.
“I think the fear around AI and journalism mostly comes from misunderstanding not just of the tech itself, but of how it’s actually being used when applied,” Daulat said.
AI writing can produce errors in quotes, incorrect and hallucinated citations and a lack of human emotion. Right now, artificial intelligence fails to capture the intricacies of original writing.
While the subtleties of storytelling, nuance and investigation are very human tasks, AI tools are inevitably the future of reporting. They should be engaged with, rather than feared or ignored.
“I see this a lot, tragically with journalism students, when they think that artificial intelligence is a nice, clean, easy way to produce language,” said assistant journalism professor Josephine “Jo” Lukito. “If you’re trying to do anything with any level of complexity, you’re going to run into problems from a content quality perspective.”
While the integration of AI technology is a complex situation due to the ethical concerns of traditional journalism, it is undoubtedly an evolving process. Regarding modern-day adaptation and advancements in the quality of professional publications, it is integral that news companies learn how to use tools to best serve the community, albeit in moderation and not reliance.
Apuda is a journalism sophomore from The Woodlands, Texas.
