According to a report from The New York Times, Google is currently in the testing phase of an AI tool called “Genesis,” which has the ability to generate news articles. The tech giant has showcased this tool not only to The Times but also to executives from The Washington Post and News Corp, the owner of The Wall Street Journal. Witnesses of the demonstration claim that Genesis can produce written content based on the data it is provided, whether it pertains to current events or other types of information. Google envisions journalists using this tool as an assistant to automate tasks, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their work.
However, some individuals who witnessed the demonstration found it disconcerting. They expressed concerns that the tool appeared to disregard the effort required to produce accurate and easily understandable articles. Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor at the City University of New York, stated that journalists should embrace this technology only if it can reliably deliver factual information. As of now, since Genesis has not been officially launched, it remains uncertain whether it can meet this standard or if it may inadvertently contribute to the spread of misinformation. The New York Times also highlights that Google has been rapidly integrating AI technology to compete with OpenAI, a company backed by Microsoft. OpenAI’s generative AI technology, known as Bard, faced criticism for producing misinformation soon after its debut on Twitter.
Previous attempts by certain publications to utilize AI tools have not yielded successful outcomes. CNET, for instance, had to issue corrections after discovering significant errors in the majority of the 77 machine-written articles published under the CNET Money byline. Additionally, just this month, Gizmodo’s io9 published a Star Wars article riddled with errors attributed to the “Gizmodo Bot.” io9’s deputy editor, James Whitbrook, explained that the editorial team had no involvement in its publication and was not given the opportunity to make corrections before it was released.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about AI-generated news articles
What is Genesis?
Genesis is an AI technology being tested by Google that has the ability to generate news articles.
Who has Google demonstrated Genesis to?
Google has reportedly showcased Genesis to The New York Times, as well as executives from The Washington Post and News Corp, the owner of The Wall Street Journal.
How does Genesis work?
Genesis uses data fed into it to generate written content, whether it’s related to current events or other types of information.
What are the concerns raised about Genesis?
Some individuals who witnessed the demonstration of Genesis found it unsettling, as they believe it disregards the effort required to produce accurate and digestible articles. There are concerns about the potential dissemination of misinformation.
Can Genesis reliably deliver factual information?
As Genesis has not been officially launched yet, it remains uncertain whether it can consistently deliver factual information. Journalists should only embrace this technology if it meets the standard of reliability.
How is Google competing with OpenAI?
Google has been rapidly deploying AI technology to catch up with OpenAI, a company backed by Microsoft. OpenAI’s generative AI technology, Bard, faced criticism for producing misinformation soon after its introduction on Twitter.
What are some examples of previous AI-generated content?
CNET had to issue corrections after discovering substantial errors in the majority of 77 machine-written articles published under the CNET Money byline. Gizmodo’s io9 also published a Star Wars article filled with errors attributed to the “Gizmodo Bot,” which was released without editorial review.
What was the involvement of editorial teams in these AI-generated articles?
In the case of CNET and Gizmodo’s io9, the editorial teams had no involvement in the publication or the opportunity to review and make corrections before the articles were released.
More about AI-generated news articles
- Google tests AI tool “Genesis” for news article generation
- OpenAI’s generative AI technology “Bard” criticized for misinformation
- CNET’s machine-written articles with substantial errors
- Gizmodo’s io9 publishes Star Wars article with errors attributed to “Gizmodo Bot”
5 comments
google testing AI tool “genesis” that can generate news articles. sounds interesting. but what about journalists? they have important role in writing accrate and digestible pieces. need to make sure this tech can deliver factual info!
wat’s with the missing punctuation and spellin’ mistakes? Come on, peeps, let’s keep it clean and readable! We need accurate news, not sloppy typos. Pay attention to detail, even with AI tools in play!
OMG! this AI stuff is getting creepy. The fact that it can whip up articles without considering the work behind it is unsettling. I mean, what about the effort put into accurate writin’? Journalists need to be careful with this automation thing.
Google vs. OpenAI, the battle of the AIs! Genesis and Bard, both generative techs, but one caught spreading misinformation on Twitter. Gotta be cautious with these AI tools, like CNET’s article errors or Gizmodo’s bot blunders. Editorial teams need to be involved, ya know?
Can Genesis deliver facts? That’s the big question! Until it’s launched, we won’t know. But Google’s fast-tracking AI tech to keep up with OpenAI. They’re competing for the future of news. Let’s hope accuracy doesn’t get lost in the race!