GenAI tools are reshaping the information environment in ways most audiences never see. From the data that trains them to the labour that maintains them, their inner workings raise urgent questions for journalism and democratic accountability.
The power of AI is evident, but its ability to generate articles in seconds comes with the danger of plausible “hallucinations”; generation is not verification. Image by Mo Farrelly from Pixabay
GenAI tools are reshaping the information environment in ways most audiences never see. From the data that trains them to the labour that maintains them, their inner workings raise urgent questions for journalism and democratic accountability.
Our world is in the midst of a disruption triggered by the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Companies selling AI tools have become the most valuable corporations in modern times, worth trillions of dollars – more than the GDPs of most countries. They are becoming a pervasive influence on social, commercial, and political life, and shaking up industries.
The media industry is among those facing new kinds of challenges due to the rise of AI. The practice and delivery of journalism, which is a vital component for functioning and healthy democracies, is changing in ways that are not obvious to its consumers.
