The recent advancements in AI technology have seen its integrations in almost every field.
Google is reportedly testing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) product that is capable of generating news articles.
The tool internally known by the working title “Genesis” is capable of generating news content by processing information relating to current events. In a report by The New York Times, anonymous sources reveal that Genesis was pitched to media execs from The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal’s owner, News Corp. Genesis could not only act as a personal assistant to a journalist but can also steer the newsroom from the pitfalls of generative A.I, one source has claimed.
Details of how Genesis work are not yet clear. Some of the media execs who pitched Genesis did not seem impressed and described it as unsettling. Two sources mentioned in The New York Times report said “It seemed to take for granted the effort that went into producing accurate and artful news stories”
In a statement to The Verge, Google Spokesperson Jenn Crider has said that the company is still in its earliest stage of exploring ideas to potentially provide AI-enabled tools to help journalists with their work. In addition, the tool is to enhance journalists’ work and productivity by giving them a choice of these “emerging technology” similar to the writing assistants in Gmail and Google Docs.
Will AI Replace Journalists in the Newsroom?
Despite the rapid advancement in Artificial Intelligence in recent times, it is too soon to make a ruling on whether this technology will replace journalists. Recent attempts at incorporating AI technologies in the publishing sector have not been successful.
Earlier this year, it was reported that technology news site CNET had been quietly publishing news articles generated using an AI engine. This caused outrage as critics pointed out errors, inaccuracy and misleading information which the AI had generated in its articles.
In addition to possible pushback from journalists against generative AI taking over their jobs, Google has some serious trouble with the media. As a consequence, this will force Google to take a safe introduction and rollout for Genesis as a personal assistant to journalists rather than marketing it as a replacement.
Jenn Crider added, “Quite simply these tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the essential role journalists have in reporting, creating, and fact-checking their articles.”
Genesis is still in its testing phase and undoubtedly its release will set precedence to a lot of questions and debates on journalism’s future and ethics.
