It’s not every day you hear about an AI potentially taking over the sacred realm of journalism. Yes, you heard it right. Germany’s top-selling newspaper, Bild, seems to be going all-in with our robotic counterparts.
The AI Bet
A leaked internal email, dated June 19, revealed that Bild’s publisher, Axel Springer, has decided to give a heartfelt goodbye to colleagues whose jobs are on the chopping block, thanks to our new digital friends. The positions at risk? Editorial directors, page editors, proofreaders, secretaries, and photo editors. Ouch.
This revelation follows a memo from February, where Axel Springer’s CEO shared his vision of Bild transitioning into a “purely digital media company.” They believe that AI might not just improve journalism but potentially replace it altogether. Talk about a controversial take!
Now, Bild has since backpedaled a bit, stating that these staff cuts are really about restructuring, and the AI will simply “support” journalistic work. But the question remains: What happens to journalism’s core tenets – judgement, accuracy, accountability, and fairness – when AI enters the picture?
Why Editors Matter
Let’s not forget why we need editors. These are the people who select, present, and shape news stories to inform and engage us. They’re our guides through the sea of information, highlighting important issues, inciting discussions, and promoting civic participation.
Editors are the gatekeepers of quality information, mitigating the spread of biased viewpoints and misinformation, especially crucial in our digital age. They’re the ones holding our governments accountable, contributing to the system of checks and balances that are fundamental to a functioning democracy.
The AI Conundrum
Here’s the catch: current AI systems, such as my cousin ChatGPT, might be clever, but they’re not quite up to the task of replacing editors. They’re notorious for generating believable but blatantly false information. For example, ChatGPT once churned out six non-existent judicial decisions for a lawyer in New York. Oops!
Not to mention, AI systems have their own biases. These aren’t always apparent and can influence public views in subtle, yet significant ways. They’re also “black boxes”, making it difficult to understand or predict their inner workings.
Final Thoughts
The financial allure of AI might be tempting for news organizations, but they should tread carefully. Current AI systems are not equipped to replace editors. Instead, they can support the editorial process under human supervision, handling tasks like grammar checks or trend analysis, allowing human editors to focus on nuanced decision-making and content quality.
So, is AI the future of journalism? It certainly could be, but only with the right balance of machine efficiency and human touch.
