Google is currently testing a groundbreaking product called Genesis, which utilizes artificial intelligence technology to generate news stories. This tool is being showcased to prominent news organizations such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and News Corp, the owner of The Wall Street Journal. Multiple sources, who prefer to remain anonymous, have revealed that Genesis can analyze information on various current events and compose news content.
According to one individual familiar with the product, Google envisions Genesis as a personal assistant for journalists, automating certain tasks and freeing up time for other important responsibilities. The company perceives this technology as a responsible solution that can help the publishing industry avoid the potential pitfalls associated with generative A.I.
However, some executives who have witnessed Google’s pitch have expressed unease, highlighting the tool’s apparent disregard for the meticulous effort typically required to produce accurate and well-crafted news stories.
At present, Google has not provided an official comment regarding Genesis. Similarly, The New York Times and The Washington Post have declined to offer any remarks. On the other hand, a spokesperson from News Corp expressed gratitude towards Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, for their enduring commitment to journalism.
Jeff Jarvis, a renowned journalism professor and media commentator, recognizes the potential benefits and drawbacks of Google’s new tool. If Genesis can consistently deliver reliable information, journalists should embrace its usage. Mr. Jarvis, who serves as the director of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism, further emphasizes that misuse of the tool, particularly on topics that require nuance and cultural understanding, could undermine both its credibility and that of the news organizations that adopt it.
News organizations worldwide are currently grappling with the dilemma of incorporating artificial intelligence tools into their newsrooms. Several prominent outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, and Insider, have informed their staff about their intention to explore responsible applications of A.I. in the fast-paced and high-stakes realm of news reporting.
Nevertheless, Google’s Genesis tool is likely to provoke anxiety among journalists who have traditionally crafted their own articles for centuries. Although some news organizations, such as The Associated Press, have employed A.I. to generate stories on topics like corporate earnings reports, these automated articles remain a small fraction compared to those produced by human writers.
The introduction of artificial intelligence could revolutionize news article generation, allowing users to produce articles on a larger scale. However, if not edited and fact-checked thoroughly, these automated articles could potentially spread misinformation and affect the perception of traditionally written stories.
While Google has made significant strides in developing and deploying generative A.I., this technology has also presented challenges to the advertising giant. Historically, Google has curated information and directed users to publishers’ websites. However, tools like its chatbot, Bard, sometimes present inaccurate factual claims and fail to direct users to more authoritative sources, including news publishers.
This technology emerges as governments worldwide urge Google to provide news outlets with a larger share of its advertising revenue. In response, Google has formed partnerships with news organizations under its News Showcase program, following attempts by the Australian government to enforce negotiations between the company and publishers in 2021.
Notably, publishers and content creators have raised concerns about major A.I. companies, including Google, using their decades’ worth of articles and posts to train A.I. systems without compensating them. News organizations, such as NBC News and The New York Times, have taken a firm stance against A.I. systems exploiting their data without proper consent.
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