G/O Media, the media company behind popular sites like Jezebel, the Onion, and Gizmodo, is facing backlash from its staff over the publication of articles written by AI bots. Despite the outcry, G/O Media executives are standing firm on their decision and plan to release more AI-written articles in the near future, according to an internal memo obtained by Vox. The AI-generated stories first appeared on multiple G/O sites recently, attributed to “Gizmodo Bot” and other similar bylines. However, these articles have been plagued with errors, including a Star Wars list on Gizmodo that was presented in the wrong order. The content went live without the knowledge of the editors and reporters, who were only notified hours before publication, as reported by the Washington Post.
In response to concerns raised by employees, G/O Media’s editorial director Merrill Brown acknowledged that the AI-generated content would not replace the work of human writers and editors. Nonetheless, he admitted that errors are inevitable with AI and cautioned that the AI bots are not always reliable and consistent. Brown made it clear through an internal memo that the company has no intention of halting the publication of AI-written stories. This decision did not sit well with the union representing G/O employees, who criticized the leadership’s stance. They argued that AI programs, known for generating falsehoods and plagiarizing real writers’ work, cannot replace the hard work and trust built by journalists over the years. They emphasized that the use of computer-generated garbage undermines their ability to effectively fulfill their roles, damages their reputations, and poses a threat to their job security.
Other news outlets, such as CNET and Buzzfeed, have abandoned the experiment of publishing AI-generated content due to the high number of errors and inaccuracies. An article on Gizmodo, again containing multiple errors, prompted this change of heart. However, G/O Media remains unyielding, with Brown stating that they will continue to publish stories written and produced by bots. He did mention that top editors will now review the content before publication to ensure its quality. G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller also defended the decision, stating that not testing AI would be irresponsible. Nevertheless, G/O Media employees are deeply affected by the use of bot-authored stories, with one journalist calling it a disaster for morale. Another staff writer suggested that the company is merely trying to find cost-cutting measures and replace real journalism with machine-generated content.
G/O Media’s commitment to AI-generated articles despite the concerns expressed by their staff highlights a contentious and evolving trend in the media industry. While AI technology has the potential to streamline operations and increase efficiency, the importance of human creativity, reliability, and trust cannot be underestimated in the realm of journalism. As the industry continues to navigate this balance between human and machine, it remains to be seen how AI will reshape the landscape of media.
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