Popular News Websites are Turning to AI for Content Generation
In Brief
Popular websites are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) for content generation, but the results have been mixed.
Gizmodo discontinued its Spanish-language version and used AI to automatically translate English content into Spanish.
Cnet tested AI-generated articles, but faced criticism for errors.
News Corp. Australia uses AI to generate local news articles, while Google is testing its own AI-driven tools.
Popular websites are increasingly exploring the potential of AI to generate written content. While this approach promises efficiency and scalability, the outcomes have been met with varying degrees of success and scepticism.
Tech giant Gizmodo, known for its insightful coverage, recently made a significant move by discontinuing its Spanish-language version and disbanding the corresponding team. Instead, the platform has adopted a novel approach, leveraging AI to automatically translate English content into Spanish. However, the transition hasn’t been seamless, as readers have reported inconsistent translation quality, with some articles partially rendered in Spanish and others in English.
This shift towards AI-driven content creation is not limited to translations alone. Gizmodo is actively testing AI-generated articles on its primary site, despite facing resistance from both readers and editorial staff. While the AI-generated content exhibits certain shortcomings, the platform’s owners appear committed to refining and expanding this approach.
Another prominent technology site, Cnet, has also ventured into the realm of AI-generated content. However, the initial results have left room for improvement, as numerous errors were detected in the generated texts. This development led to concerns among Cnet’s editorial team, who feared the potential replacement of human writers by algorithms. In response, Cnet’s owners decided to maintain a human touch in their content generation process by having AI-generated texts undergo human editorial review.
On the global stage, the Australian subsidiary of News Corp., a media conglomerate founded by Rupert Murdoch, has embraced AI as a powerful tool. It now employs AI to generate a staggering volume of up to 3,000 local news articles each week for News Corp Australia’s online platforms. This approach demonstrates AI’s ability to significantly boost content production capabilities.
Notably, Google is also testing its own AI-driven tools for crafting news articles, further highlighting the industry’s growing interest in automated content creation.
However, not all experiences with AI-generated content have been smooth sailing. Major American publisher Gannett temporarily suspended its foray into AI-generated news articles after a particularly egregious error involving a sports report. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges and limitations in AI’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality content.
AI-generated News Sets New Standards for Quality in the Coming Years
The growing adoption of AI for content generation is poised to have a transformative impact on the news media landscape. This shift represents a significant departure from traditional journalistic practices and brings both opportunities and challenges to the forefront.
The integration of AI-driven content generation tools is likely to lead to an exponential increase in the volume of news articles produced. This newfound scalability can enable news outlets to cover a broader spectrum of topics and reach a wider audience. However, it raises concerns about the quality of such content, as AI-generated articles may lack the depth, context, and nuanced understanding that skilled human journalists provide. Striking the right balance between quantity and quality will be a critical challenge for news organizations.
AI-generated content has the potential to revolutionize the speed at which news is delivered. Automated systems can rapidly generate articles based on incoming data, enabling real-time reporting of events. This could be particularly valuable in situations where immediacy is crucial, such as breaking news and emergency reporting. On the flip side, this velocity may also lead to the dissemination of unverified or inaccurate information, necessitating robust fact-checking mechanisms.
Furthermore, the cost-efficiency of AI-generated content may reshape the economics of the news media industry. Reduced reliance on human writers could potentially lower operational costs for news organizations. This cost-effectiveness might also lead to concerns about job displacement within the journalism sector, prompting ethical and societal discussions about the role of humans in news creation.
AI’s ability to personalize content based on user preferences and behavior could also redefine the reader experience. News consumers may receive tailored articles that align more closely with their interests, enhancing engagement.
Lastly, the emergence of AI-generated content in news media underscores the importance of transparent disclosure. Readers have a right to know when they are consuming content generated by algorithms rather than human authors.
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About The Author
Damir is the team leader, product manager, and editor at Metaverse Post, covering topics such as AI/ML, AGI, LLMs, Metaverse, and Web3-related fields. His articles attract a massive audience of over a million users every month. He appears to be an expert with 10 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing. Damir has been mentioned in Mashable, Wired, Cointelegraph, The New Yorker, Inside.com, Entrepreneur, BeInCrypto, and other publications. He travels between the UAE, Turkey, Russia, and the CIS as a digital nomad. Damir earned a bachelor's degree in physics, which he believes has given him the critical thinking skills needed to be successful in the ever-changing landscape of the internet.
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Damir is the team leader, product manager, and editor at Metaverse Post, covering topics such as AI/ML, AGI, LLMs, Metaverse, and Web3-related fields. His articles attract a massive audience of over a million users every month. He appears to be an expert with 10 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing. Damir has been mentioned in Mashable, Wired, Cointelegraph, The New Yorker, Inside.com, Entrepreneur, BeInCrypto, and other publications. He travels between the UAE, Turkey, Russia, and the CIS as a digital nomad. Damir earned a bachelor's degree in physics, which he believes has given him the critical thinking skills needed to be successful in the ever-changing landscape of the internet.
