A Digital Shift or a Slippery Slope? AI Takes Over Editorial Jobs at Axel Springer
In a move that’s been described as everything from groundbreaking to downright concerning, Axel Springer, the heavyweight European publishing house that’s the umbrella over German tabloid Bild, is preparing to push over a hundred editorial jobs out of the human realm and into the AI sector. This decision was spotlighted in a leaked email initially seized upon by the German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine.
Now, what we’re talking about here isn’t a minor adjustment. Springer isn’t just dipping its toes into the AI pool; it’s doing a cannonball. The email, as relayed by FAZ and The Guardian, elaborates that AI will step into the shoes of “editors, print production staff, subeditors, proofreaders, and photo editors.” It’s a profound shift that could reshape the entire landscape of traditional editorial roles.
Looking at the broader picture, this move is just one piece of Axel Springer’s cost-cutting puzzle. Insider, another one of its brands, also trimmed its employee roster in favor of an AI-driven approach earlier this year. Sure, there’s been a trend of media companies flirting with AI integration, but to fully automate hundreds of core editorial roles? This feels like a new level of commitment. As Europe’s largest publisher, Axel Springer could very well be setting a precedent for others to follow.
The man steering this ship, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner, has previously declared his intentions to morph the company into a “purely digital media company”. He’s even gone so far as to suggest that AI could elevate independent journalism to heights it’s never reached before – or, in a more ominous tone, replace it entirely.
But hold on, let’s not get carried away. There’s a good chance this might not pan out as smoothly as envisioned. Remember when BuzzFeed made a hushed entry into AI-produced travel guides? Let’s just say it didn’t make the splash they were hoping for. AI-generated text, for all its buzz, still often lacks depth.
And then there’s the reliability issue. Generative AI tools have a somewhat unsavory reputation for fabricating citations, quotes, and facts. That’s a serious red flag for any journalistic endeavor. It’s tough to see how AI could fully take over the journalistic process, especially when it comes to detailed tasks like editing and proofreading.
The backlash to this move has been swift and scathing. The German Journalists’ Association (DJV) didn’t mince words, blasting the automation effort as “not just antisocial towards employees, but also extremely stupid economically.” So, as we watch this saga unfold, the question remains: is this a bold step into a digital future, or a reckless gamble that could undermine the very fabric of journalism? Only time will tell.
Source: futurism.com
