Gannett, the parent company of USA Today and various local newspapers, has put a halt to an artificial intelligence (AI) experiment following backlash over AI-generated sports articles that were poorly worded and lacked details. This month, a few Gannett-owned papers briefly published sports stories generated by AI based on box score data. However, social media commenters quickly criticized the articles, particularly pointing out awkward phrasing. For instance, one article referred to a high school football game as “high school football action,” leading readers to describe the article as “terrible.” The AI also described an Ohio game as a “close encounter of the athletic kind.” Another issue arose when the AI failed to generate proper names for sports mascots in one article. Gannett confirmed that they have paused their AI experiment while they review vendors and refine their processes to ensure high journalistic standards.
The AI-generated articles were marked as authored by LedeAI, a tech company that aims to provide reliable and accurate local reporting through automation. LedeAI CEO Jay Allred expressed regret over the errors and stated that his team is working to address the concerns. He acknowledged that glitches can occur with new technological advances and that they immediately took action to correct the problems and make necessary changes. Allred appreciated the valid feedback received on social media platforms like X (previously known as Twitter) and considered it a useful conversation about the technology. He believes that content automation is part of the future of local newsrooms, as it allows readers to access timely information about high school sports moments after the games are finished.
While companies in various industries are integrating generative AI programs like ChatGPT into their workflows, some speculate that AI could potentially replace journalists entirely. Allred expressed his belief that content automation is a vital component of local newsrooms’ future. By leveraging innovative technology and partnering with local news organizations, LedeAI aims to provide readers and communities with information they wouldn’t otherwise have, while freeing reporters and editors to focus on impactful journalism.
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