Normally, I wouldn’t tell my readers about this. times about what we decided no do. But once in a while, it’s worth making an effort to shed light on the invisible newspaper policy choices that affect everyone. The subject covered in this case is one that has received a lot of press lately and has raised a lot of questions: artificial intelligence.
Disruptive ideas and technologies are not new. The printing press, the steam engine, automobiles, and television are just a few examples of new ways of doing things that have radically impacted the world.
It reminds me of my grandfather who was born in 1906. His grandfather first saw an airplane when he was 13 years old while moving his family’s belongings from Oklahoma to East Texas in a mule wagon. By the time he died at his 89th year, he had seen the advent of telephones, rural electrification, nuclear power (and weapons), computers, space exploration, and the nascent Internet. At the time, many feared the end of the world, but none of it meant the end of the world.
The point is that transformational change is inevitable and always will be. But that doesn’t mean we can’t control its trajectory or be responsible for our choices surrounding it. To say the least, it is inadvisable to adopt emerging technologies outright without careful consideration of the consequences.
The internet proves that point. Who would really want to give up such an amazingly powerful tool right now? There are many reasons why I wish we were more careful about buying and selling, pre-empting ways to foster deep political polarization.
There is no doubt that AI will bring new opportunities. But the pace, scale and scope of economic and social change that could follow its deployment are historically unprecedented, making caution more important than ever.
That’s fine, but what does this have to do with our local newspaper? Are we remote enough to escape such a major change? not much.
According to Business Insider, the media industry, including journalism, is one of the industries most vulnerable to disruption by AI, after software design and coding. It’s not hard to see why. If AI can pass the bar exam, why can’t it help investigative reporters scrutinize large amounts of data or write simple news stories? Isn’t it one way to save the newspaper company that is in the middle of the day?
These are the questions currently circulating in the news industry, forcing publishers to come up with answers and take a stand. My purpose in writing this is to tell you in advance where it is. times Stand up and explain why.
Nothing you read or see in the news content of this newspaper is and will not be generated by AI.
My reasons fall into three categories: accuracy, transparency and accountability. In fact, these are all aspects of the larger concept of trust that we cherish and protect at all costs.
Unlike human reporters who may be questioned about their sources and thought processes. That prejudice can be challenged and overcome. AI is effectively a black box, uncovering information and even reaching “conclusions” that can only be trusted as a matter of faith rather than research. This is the exact opposite of journalism.
Editors and publishers must be able to endorse everything published in the newspaper and answer questions about where the article came from and how it was selected for publication. . In its current form, AI-generated content cannot be used to meet this standard.
Someday this may no longer be true. Perhaps it will incorporate safeguards that make this kind of objection seem strange. Until then, readers can trust that everything that appears on these pages has been produced by the hard working people in the newsroom. If you have questions about anything we write, we know where to find us.
(Alan Wartes can be reached at 970.641.1414 or Publisher@gunnisontimes.com.).
