A critical approach towards AI use in journalism

By Dirk Vandereyken, AEJ Belgium vice-president

As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, journalism is also witnessing significant changes. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), coupled with innovations like the new Apple Vision Pro headset, presents new opportunities and challenges for journalists. 

While these advancements offer immense potential to enhance journalistic practices, it is crucial to approach them with a critical mindset. Journalists must understand how to leverage new technologies, including AI while recognising their potential caveats and recognising their effective and responsible use.

The promise and pitfalls of AI in journalism

AI has undoubtedly revolutionised several aspects of journalism, aiding in processes such as data analysis, fact-checking, and language translation. However, journalists must exercise caution when using  AI. One of the drawbacks of AI-generated content is the prevalence of repetitive phrases, keywords, and generic statements that fail to capture the complexity and nuance of human emotions. As journalists, we must remember that the human touch and context are crucial in delivering accurate and meaningful stories.

Furthermore, AI algorithms can sometimes perpetuate false information or misleading narratives. While AI is programmed based on patterns and data, it may fail to discern the veracity of certain claims. Journalists must exercise due diligence and verify information independently, as trusting AI blindly can propagate misinformation. Incorporating human judgment and rigorous fact-checking procedures remain essential to upholding journalistic integrity.

The issue of AI bias

One of the significant concerns surrounding AI implementation is bias. AI systems are trained on vast datasets, which might inadvertently perpetuate existing biases and stereotypes present in the data. To counter this issue, journalists should critically examine the outputs of AI systems, ensuring they do not reinforce societal prejudices or narratives that might cause harm or perpetuate inequality. It is essential to employ a well-rounded approach, cross-checking AI-generated insights with impartial human analysis to eliminate biases.

Supporting journalists 

While AI may still possess limitations in generating journalistic content, it can be immensely helpful in various other ways. For instance, AI-powered tools can aid journalists in detecting spelling or grammatical errors, suggesting synonyms for diverse writing styles, and even optimising social media posts by suggesting hashtags. Such applications can streamline the writing process and enhance the overall quality of the content, enabling journalists to focus more on investigative reporting and storytelling.

Ethical standards

As journalists embrace the capabilities offered by AI, it is crucial to establish ethical guidelines for its usage. Journalistic associations and organisations must collaborate with technology experts to develop a framework that ensures AI deployment aligns with journalistic principles. This framework should highlight the importance of human intervention, impartiality, and responsible utilisation of AI technologies in reporting.

Moreover, fostering transparency is vital in AI-based journalism. News organisations should be open about their use of AI systems and disclose potential biases or limitations inherent in these technologies. Journalists should also engage in continuous training programs to understand the intricacies and potential AI impacts, enabling them to make informed decisions while incorporating these technologies.

The integration of AI and emerging technologies into journalism brings both opportunities and challenges for the industry. While AI can assist journalists in various tasks, it is crucial to maintain critical thinking and guard against over-reliance. The limitations of AI should be acknowledged, particularly in generating content, as it often fails to replicate the creativity, depth, and contextual understanding that human journalists possess.