LONDON: The New York Times has reportedly warned freelance staff about using artificial intelligence in their work.
According to news website Futurism, the warning followed “a string of AI controversies” that prompted the US newspaper to send a “periodic reminder” to freelancers about its AI policy.
“Freelance contributors must not submit any material for publication that contains content generated, modified or enhanced by (generative AI) tools, or that has been input into these tools,” the email said, according to Futurism.
The NYT has a strict policy on the use of AI tools. While in-house journalists have separate guidelines and approved generative AI tools, freelancers are barred from using such tools to draft, edit or rephrase copy.
The paper said contributors may use AI for “high-level” brainstorming, but any tool used to “create, draft, guide, clean up, edit, improve, or rephrase your writing” is strictly prohibited.
