Tech News Summary:
- The rise of generative AI in newsrooms has led to its use in writing articles, but former Google security chief Arjun Narayan warns of risks such as inaccuracies and difficulty in detecting AI-generated content.
- AI-run news services or “content farms” have been found to spread false information, driving the need for transparency and caution in using AI-generated content in lieu of human-written articles without proper oversight.
- Experts warn against replacing human-written articles with AI-generated content, as bad actors may use it for misinformation and AI decisions may still require human supervision for verification and curation of editorial standards and values.
As artificial intelligence (A.I.) continues to rapidly advance, many are beginning to question the true implications of the technology. At a recent conference hosted by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Google’s former safety chief, Gerhard Eschelbeck, shed light on the potential dangers of A.I. in news media.
Eschelbeck warned that the growing use of A.I. in news media could lead to the creation of biased content, as algorithms are designed to cater to individual user preferences. This could further polarize society and undermine the role of journalism in facilitating informed debates.
Furthermore, Eschelbeck raised concerns about the use of A.I. to manipulate social media conversations and sway public opinion. This has already been seen in instances of political propaganda and fake news spreading across the internet.
Eschelbeck’s remarks serve as a reminder that although A.I. has the potential to revolutionize news media, it also poses significant risks. In a world where information is more important than ever before, it is crucial that we take a critical and thoughtful approach to integrating A.I. into news media to ensure that it serves the public interest and upholds the values of journalism.