TL;DR:
- News Corp CEO Robert Thomson warns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) to journalism.
- AI programs pose a threat by harvesting and ingesting content, surfacing specific stories, and synthesizing editorial essence.
- Thomson expresses concerns about AI diverting readers from journalism websites and undermining the industry.
- Revenue pressure and uncertain macroeconomic times require media companies to optimize operations.
- Thomson criticizes the influence of organizations like the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), which blacklist conservative media outlets.
- Advertisers face undue influence from these organizations, impacting ad revenue and algorithmic rankings.
- AI-powered journalism lacks emotional intelligence (EI) and editorial judgment.
- AI’s impact on journalism necessitates recognizing and preserving the unique value of human judgment and EI.
Main AI News:
The potential ramifications of artificial intelligence on journalism have been brought to the forefront by News Corp CEO Robert Thomson, who expressed concerns that this technological advancement could have a detrimental impact on the industry. Speaking at the International News Media Association’s World Congress in New York, Thomson emphasized the threat posed by AI programs capable of appropriating proprietary content and diverting advertising revenue away from “blacklisted” publications.
The intellectual property of news organizations is under siege, cautioned Thomson, who holds a prominent position within The Post’s parent company, which also owns reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and the Times of London. He outlined three major areas where AI poses risks: the harvesting and ingestion of content to train AI engines, the surfacing of individual stories in specific searches, and the synthesis of content into distinct pieces that undermine the essence of original editorials.
Thomson described these synthesized snippets as encapsulating the effort and insight of exceptional journalism while intentionally diverting readers from journalism websites. He warned that this approach would have a devastating effect on the field of journalism. Furthermore, he attributed the need for media companies to “optimize operations” to the formidable revenue pressures and uncertain macroeconomic conditions faced by the news industry.
Taking aim at entities like the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) and similar organizations, Thomson criticized their influence on advertisers, discouraging them from partnering with publishers accused of disseminating “disinformation.” Allegedly, the GDI, a UK-based entity with US affiliates, has compiled secret exclusion lists targeting conservative media outlets in an attempt to deprive them of advertising revenue.
Thomson decried the undue influence wielded by these “arrogant armchair amateurs” on advertising expenditures by agencies and companies. He highlighted the susceptibility of mastheads to abrupt and capricious changes in algorithmic ranking, which can significantly impact ad revenue. Additionally, he noted that despite the industry’s dependence on advertising, some ad agencies exhibit unwarranted apprehension regarding news adjacencies.
Drawing from personal experience, Thomson recounted an encounter with the CEO of a major advertiser who was unaware of a ban on placing ads with The Post. This revelation highlighted the influence of hyper-politicized agency personnel on advertising decisions.
According to reports, GDI’s blacklists are distributed to major advertising firms that face pressure from “nonpartisan” organizations claiming to combat online disinformation. These firms are urged to sever ties with right-leaning and conservative news outlets, including Newsmax, the Federalist, the Daily Wire, and the New York Post.
GDI’s website outlines its mission to eliminate the financial incentive for spreading disinformation by disseminating a dynamic exclusion list that rates media outlets based on their risk factor. The situation is further complicated by the influx of artificial information, which Thomson noted is challenging the field of journalism. Several renowned news agencies, including the Associated Press, Bloomberg News, the New York Times, the BBC, and Thomson Reuters, have begun incorporating AI into their news operations. However, Thomson cautioned that AI-powered journalism lacks the emotional intelligence (EI) inherent in editorial judgment by humans.
Conlcusion:
The rise of AI poses significant challenges for the journalism market. The potential for content harvesting, diversion of readers, and synthesis of editorial essence threatens the industry’s core. Media companies must navigate revenue pressures and optimize operations to adapt to uncertain macroeconomic conditions. The influence of organizations like the GDI on advertisers and algorithmic rankings introduces additional challenges. While AI can enhance news operations, it is crucial to acknowledge and preserve the essential role of human judgment and emotional intelligence in journalism.
