#3 - Artificial Intelligence in Journalism

 Jamie Hesterly

Professor Reppert

MM 2003

Artificial Intelligence in Journalism

Artificial Intelligence or AI has been around longer than most people think. The first iPhone that was equipped with the AI assistant known as Siri came out in 2011 with the iPhone 4S, but AI can be dated to many years before that with some sources dating it back to the 1950s. In the years after that, especially in recent years, the evolution AI has achieved is an extraordinary one but one that can also be worrying for many people. While AI is an exceptional and amazing thing, I feel it is also a danger to authenticity and especially in the world of journalism it can be a danger if not used in the right ways. However I feel there are also more ways it can be helpful if used as intended and used as a tool. 

In the modern day, AI is used by many people and in many different ways. There is usually a lot of critique on AI due to its nature to replicate a person’s work and do it in what's perceived to be inauthentic. AI is used today to make advertisements, social media videos, replicate art, and has also been used in making deepfakes and spreading disinformation. AI is not inherently a bad thing and in the right hands can be used for good, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always turn out like that. I believe AI is bad in the modern day as people use it as a tool to get things done quickly instead of putting in the work personally, regarding things like art. However advertisements now are starting to use more and more AI to cut down on time and make the process easier. The lack of personal work being done I feel is a threat to authenticity as a whole, and as the issue has been mentioned it is worth mentioning that if it can be proved an AI can do a job then would be the point of an average person having that job if there is room for error, but there is an answer to that question.

Journalism is affected by AI in multiple ways, as AI is a threat to authenticity, it is a threat to honest news as well. In the modern day especially in the most recent years, there is an issue with reporters and writers having their reports be written by AI. I have also seen instances in which their research was from an AI and was incorrect, making their work misinformation. The use of AI to write a report or paper with no personal work done injures the credibility of the journalist or author. Artificial Intelligence is also a big problem in the world of disinformation, as people will use AI to spread disinformation using social media, which can fast track disinformation to hundreds of users, which would no doubt be a problem. AI also is used in the world of disinformation in the form of deepfakes. Deepfakes are fabricated images, audio, or videos that are created by AI, this makes it difficult for a user to distinguish whether the content is authentic or fake. Deepfakes are another issue that has been around for a long time, but with the recent rises in AI ability they have become even more frequent and believable. The use of deepfakes is particularly common in the political news area, with much disinformation being spread using deepfakes. However, despite deepfake technology being an issue, it does have many weaknesses and if you develop an eye for it, it becomes easier and easier to spot.

Despite artificial intelligence being an issue is not at all entirely negative. Most AI was intended to be used as a tool and when used in that way is actually very helpful and useful. There are many ways in which AI can be a tool to a journalist. Artificial Intelligence can be used to help write a report or paper instead of doing it completely by itself. Using the help of AI grammar checkers or even using it to help produce ideas with a starting point can produce very engaging and readable content that can really help any writer. Along with that, AI can be helpful for research IF it is being monitored and double checked as real news and not just taken at face value which can lead to problems with misinformation. Artificial Intelligence does not have to be as big of a threat as long as journalists stay honest about their work and any work being done and research is double checked for AI regarding incorrect misinformation or maybe even any AI art, deepfake images or videos as to try to maintain complete authenticity. 

Artificial Intelligence or AI has been around for many years and in recent years, has had some very impressive and amazing developments with different forms of technology. Although AI is used in many ways that are deemed as wrong and can be seen as a threat to authenticity, in the world of journalism AI can be used as a tool for helping to provide and expand on ideas. It is also important that a journalist stay authentic as possible and double check any data and research that could’ve been provided by AI. Even with the world of AI growing in a wrong direction with deepfake technology and misinformation, it can also be used to grow in a right direction, as a tool to provide the best coverage and journalism as human (or inhuman) as possible.