9.09.2024 Media industry
Artificial Intelligence in the Media. Reuters Digital News Report 2024
Krzysztof Fiedorek
AI has gained prominence in recent years, and its application in producing, distributing, and presenting news content continues to grow. However, this development is met with mixed feelings by audiences, which has significant consequences for media trust and its future.
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illustration: bing.com/createThe introduction of AI in news media is a step forward with the potential to transform journalism. The "Digital News Report 2024" by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism discusses numerous examples of AI use in media worldwide. For instance:
- Nordic publisher Schibsted uses AI to generate "highlights" at the beginning of many articles to boost reader engagement;
- in Germany, publisher Axel Springer implemented AI to write over 5% of published articles, using an AI robot called Klara Indernach. Additionally, tools like Midjourney and OpenAI`s DALL-E are used to automate graphic illustration creation;
- in Mexico, Radio Fórmula took it a step further, introducing AI-generated news presenters like Nat, who delivers news on the website and social media.
These are just a few examples of how AI is beginning to play an increasingly important role in journalism.
Data and Audience Reactions
However, the introduction of AI in media is not without controversy. According to the report, most audiences are uncomfortable with the idea of AI creating news content, especially in cases where AI is the primary author with minimal human oversight.
- Only 36% of respondents in the USA and 33% in Europe said they felt comfortable with AI being used to assist journalists,
- while only 19% and 15% in the USA and Europe, respectively, would feel comfortable if AI created content with minimal human input.
There is also a notable difference in reactions to different types of AI-generated content. Audiences are more open to using AI to create fact- and number-based content, such as sports scores or election reports, but are much more skeptical about AI generating political or crime-related content, where human understanding and sensitivity are required.
Issues of Trust and Ethics
The report also highlights that trust in media may suffer due to the introduction of AI. Concerns exist that AI could generate biased, inaccurate, or even false information, exacerbating the misinformation problem.
- 27% of TikTok users had difficulty distinguishing real content from fake. Many of these issues were associated with AI-generated content, which can be harder to verify due to its realistic nature;
- in Indonesia, the use of AI to create news met with mixed reactions. Although AI is used to automate simple reports, many respondents expressed concerns that content might be biased or inaccurate, undermining trust in media as a whole;
- in Germany, the use of AI in media faced criticism when some AI-generated articles contained factual errors, leading to a public debate about the need for greater control and transparency in using such technologies.
In surveys, many respondents stated they would prefer all AI-generated content to be clearly labeled so they could consciously choose whether to engage with it.
The Future of AI in Journalism
However, as the report data shows, there is a need for a cautious approach that considers audience trust and ethical concerns. Media adopting AI must be aware of the risks and approach transparency and content quality responsibly to maintain audience trust.
The introduction of AI in journalism, while offering many benefits, such as automation and content personalization, is also a challenge that requires responsibility and precise control to uphold fundamental journalistic values.
The full Digital News Report 2024 can be downloaded for free from:
https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2024
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