Google is pitching an AI journalism tool to major news outlets ...
To assist journalists in writing their stories, Google is developing a tool that uses artificial intelligence technology.
The company pitched the product to executives from news organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal owner, News Corp, per a report from the Times.
Genesis: The AI Journalism Tool
Known internally as Genesis, the AI tool can take information from current events to create news content. Google presented the project as a "responsible" assistant for journalists. Google co-founder Sergey Brin has returned to the company and worked closely with researchers developing Gemini, Google's large-language model (LLM).
Reactions and Concerns
Anonymous sources who were present for the pitch described the presentation as "unsettling." While Google is promising the tool won't replace journalists, members of the press are still wary of how Genesis will affect the industry.
For journalists, there are upsides and downsides to Google's new AI tool. Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor, mentioned in The New York Times that the use of the tool should be based on delivering factual information reliably.
Cautions from Industry Experts
News publishers should be cautious with Google, warned Jason Kint, the chief executive of online news lobbying group Digital Content Next, to The Washington Post. While the tools are exciting, publishers should be mindful of Google's history of handling copyrighted material and user data in a manner that prioritizes Google's interests.
Challenges and Future Implications
There are concerns about the accuracy and implications of using AI tools like Genesis in journalism. Hany Farid, a computer science professor at the University of California at Berkeley, voiced concerns about the potential use of AI in time-crunched fields like journalism.
As Google pushes its AI journalism tool to major news outlets, the industry awaits further developments and evaluates the impact of integrating AI technology into news content creation.
