Generative AI in Journalism Concerns
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed various industries over the past few years, with journalism facing significant changes as a result. A recent report sheds light on the attitudes of news audiences and journalists towards the use of generative AI technologies, including chatbots and multimedia generators, within newsrooms.
Current Perceptions of AI in Journalism
This report, based on three years of interviews and focus group research conducted across Australia and six other countries—namely the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, and France—reveals that only 25% of news audience participants felt confident they had encountered generative AI in journalism. Approximately 50% were either uncertain or suspected its use. This indicates a possible lack of transparency from news organizations and highlights growing concerns over trust.
Transparency and Trust Issues
Understanding who contributes to news and how it is produced carries substantial implications. Different outlets may utilize diverse sources or represent communities in varying degrees, which can lead to misrepresentation or under-representation. If generative AI is applied carelessly, it risks perpetuating these disparities within journalism.
Application of Generative AI in Newsrooms
The report outlines numerous potential applications of generative AI in journalism. The general consensus among audiences is that they feel more comfortable with AI being employed for behind-the-scenes tasks rather than for editorial creation or heavy editing. For instance, many participants were agreeable to using AI for tasks such as transcribing interviews or generating topic coverage ideas.
Identifying Risks in AI Usage
While generative AI offers many functional benefits, it also possesses inherent risks. For example, AI can misidentify elements in images or create misleading content by manipulating factual contexts, such as darkening or lightening images in politically sensitive situations. Furthermore, AI-generated content can fabricate events altogether, creating photorealistic but fake scenarios. Such misuse emphasizes the necessity for caution when integrating AI into journalistic practices.
Audience Familiarity and Comfort Levels
Interestingly, the comfort level with AI usage varies based on individuals’ prior experiences with similar technologies. Participants generally expressed greater comfort with AI editing techniques they had previously encountered in platforms like video conferencing apps. This demonstrated a correlation between familiarity with AI tools and the willingness to accept their integration in journalism.
Improving Audience Engagement
As generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent, news organizations can enhance audience trust by adopting transparent practices and developing clear policies regarding AI usage. Audiences are encouraged to seek out media outlets that utilize AI to enhance rather than replace human contributions. Additionally, past reliability and ethics of the journalist or outlet are keys to determining the credibility of AI-generated content.
Future Considerations
As the presence of AI technologies continues to grow within journalism, audiences must engage critically with news outlets. Understanding how AI is leveraged in news processes, along with advocating for transparency, could move the industry toward a more ethically grounded integration of technology.