Google is reportedly testing a new artificial intelligence tool, internally codenamed “Genesis”, that has the potential to revolutionize the field of news writing. This tool is designed to generate news copy, serving as a personal assistant for journalists and automating some tasks to free up time for others.
The Genesis of a New Tool
According to a report from The New York Times, Google has started pitching this AI tool to various publications, including The New York Times itself, The Washington Post, and News Corp, the owner of The Wall Street Journal. Google believes that Genesis can serve as a form of “responsible technology”, assisting journalists in their work.
The Role of Genesis in Journalism
The primary function of Genesis is to take in information and generate news copy. This could be a game-changer for journalists, as it could automate some tasks and free up time for others. Google sees this tool as a form of “responsible technology”, implying that it is designed to aid journalists in their work rather than replace them.
However, the introduction of such a tool has raised some concerns. Some executives who were pitched on the tool found it “unsettling”, noting that it seemed to disregard the effort that goes into producing accurate news stories.
AI in Newsrooms: A Growing Trend
The use of AI in newsrooms is not a new concept. Several news organizations, including NPR and Insider, have notified employees that they intend to explore how AI could responsibly be used in their newsrooms. The Associated Press, for example, has long used AI to generate stories for things like corporate earnings.
However, the introduction of a tool like Genesis could take this trend to a new level. With its ability to generate news copy, Genesis could potentially automate a significant portion of the news writing process.
The Potential Risks of AI-Generated News
While the potential benefits of Genesis are significant, there are also potential risks associated with AI-generated news. One of the main concerns is the potential for the spread of misinformation. AI-generated articles that aren’t fact-checked or thoroughly edited could potentially contain factual errors or even plagiarized material.
Earlier this year, American media website CNET began producing articles using generative AI, a move that ended up backfiring for the company. CNET had to issue corrections on more than half of the articles generated by AI due to factual errors and potential plagiarism.
Conclusion
The development of Google’s “Genesis” AI represents a significant step forward in the use of AI in journalism. While the tool has the potential to greatly assist journalists in their work, it also raises important questions about the role of AI in news writing and the potential risks associated with AI-generated news.
FAQs
- What is Google’s “Genesis” AI? Genesis is an AI tool being tested by Google that can generate news copy, serving as a personal assistant for journalists.
- How can Genesis assist journalists? Genesis can automate some tasks, freeing up time for journalists to focus on other aspects of their work.
- What are the potential risks of AI-generated news? AI-generated news could potentially contain factual errors or plagiarized material if not properly fact-checked or edited.
- Have other news organizations used AI in their newsrooms? Yes, several news organizations, including NPR, Insider, and The Associated Press, have used AI in their newsrooms.
- How has the introduction of AI in news writing been received? The reception has been mixed, with some executives finding the concept “unsettling” due to the potential disregard for the effort that goes into producing accurate news stories.
