Google seems to be working on new AI tools that can write news. The company is in conversation with news agencies to use the tools to help journalists in their endeavors. However, the company did not reveal any information about the publishers it is talking with.
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New York Time Reports
Incidentally, a report by New York Times suggests that Google is speaking to the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal-owner News Corp, and New York Times itself among others.
Google says
This decision has added to the worries that AI could replace journalists resulting in many job losses. Google’s spokesperson said that these AI tools are just meant to provide different headline options and writing styles in a manner that “enhances their work and productivity.” As per the spokesperson the company is in the “earliest stages of exploring ideas.”
The spokesperson firmly stated, “Quite simply these tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the essential role journalists have in reporting, creating, and fact-checking their articles.”
However, the executives who listened to Google’s pitch found the discussion unsettling. They do not want to be identified as NYT reported. The name of the AI tool pitched by Google is known as Genesis internally.
Expert speaks
The tool has the potential to generate news items by taking information like current events, etc. A News Corp spokesperson while refusing to comment on the NYT report or the AI tool said, “We have an excellent relationship with Google, and we appreciate (Google CEO) Sundar Pichai’s long-term commitment to journalism.”
Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor and media commentator said that Google’s upcoming tool has potential advantages and disadvantages. He said, “If this technology can deliver factual information reliably, journalists should use the tool.”
He further added, “If, on the other hand, it is misused by journalists and news organisations on topics that require nuance and cultural understanding, then it could damage the credibility not only of the tool but of the news organisations that use it.”
The report was published a few days after the Associated Press declared its plan to partner with OpenAI, owner of ChatGPT, to explore the usage of generative AI in news.
