Despite concerns about the factual reliability of AI tools, they are increasingly being adopted by news agencies. Some, like CNET, have used AI to write entire articles, while others use AI for more ancillary functions, like article summaries. USA Today and The New York Times are among those experimenting with AI-assisted summaries, while The Washington Post uses an AI tool to answer questions about climate change. However, the use of AI in journalism has raised concerns about the potential for AI models to make up facts, threatening the integrity of the editorial process.
Key takeaways:
- The Wall Street Journal is testing AI-generated summaries of its articles, which appear as a 'Key Points' box above the article body.
- The AI-generated nature of these summaries is not immediately disclosed, but is mentioned in a dropdown menu.
- Other news organizations, such as USA Today and The Washington Post, are also using AI tools for tasks like article summarization and answering questions.
- Despite their increasing use, AI tools in journalism pose potential risks due to their tendency to 'hallucinate' or make up facts.