The use of AI opens up a whole horizon of possibilities for journalism, but also generates new debates and fears. In a world where robots write stories, the big question is now journalism. The third session of the cycle “AI, Rights and Democracy” dealt with the effects of the normalization of artificial intelligence for the information and communication sector.
Automatic generation of text, image, and audio has revolutionized content creation in media editorials. The use of AI opens up a whole horizon of possibilities for journalism, but also generates new debates and fears. In a world where robots write stories, the big question is now journalism.
Today, many people are familiar with algorithmic systems that determine the content we consume on social media or define the personalized advertising we see on the Internet. Similarly, information professionals have at their disposal tools that draw up content within a few seconds. Journalists can access specific software that generates automatic images (what is called generative AI) and that has already occupied covers of national and international newspapers.
But what is going on in Catalan editorials? Where is the border between tools to make it easier for journalists to work, and tools to replace journalists? How does the use of these tools affect journalistic rigor and misinformation? Where is the role of journalists as power scrutinizers if they use opaque software to scrutinize it? If we use AI to produce content, how can we guarantee AI-assisted content?
About these and other issues dealt with the third session of the Canòdrom IA, Rights and Democracy conference cycle – Athenaeus of Democratic Innovation of Barcelona with Patricia Ventura, doctor Cum Laude in ethics, artificial intelligence and communication by the UAB and communication consultant; Judith Membrives Llorens. digitization technique on Lafede.cat; in Carles Planas Bou, technology journalist in El Periódico, and Enric Borràs, Deputy Director of the ARA Journal. Experts discussed the effects of the standardisation of artificial intelligence on the information and communication sector, as well as the use of tools that do not respect privacy and people’s rights.
The Impacts of Algorithms in Journalism
In recent months, and with the birth of ChatGPT, we have received news about how artificial intelligence is meant to replace the work that journalists have done so far. The systems based on generative AI (text and images) have taken cover media or international: with photographs generated by this technology. However, the AI has already landed on numerous editorials, to help with the translation of texts, transcribe sound files or write basic texts, but the barriers are diffuse. This media seems not to match reality.
Enric Borràs, deputy director of the Diari ARA, states that the emergence of artificial intelligence in Catalan editorials has long since begun. “Many editorials use a tool called Ecobox, a social media management platform that analyzes the audience, uploads the content and program posted to social media according to the best hours,” explains Borràs. Another example is the bold tools, which allow you to see in real time what you are watching the audience at a given time, for example the number of people you are watching a piece. One of these main tools is Marfil, which presented its integration with the AI a few months ago, offering new features like alternative headlines that it detects would work better.
In the case of El Periódico there are certain artificial intelligence tools that have been applied in the media for years. As for the tools of generative AI, there is no widespread and reasoned use at the moment”, explained Carles Planas Bou, tech journalist in El Periódico. Cases of direct application of these tools are found in the US where in early 2023 the technology web portal CNET explained that it was generating articles using ChatGPT and other media revealed that they had published around 70 articles carrying incorrections and even false information. Another example was featured on the BuzzFeed website, which claimed that I would use it to offer entertainment content.
The Media Construction of AI
To Catalunya, the media build and transmit a certain way of understanding artificial intelligence. A recent Report of Lafede.cat and Media Critical Observatory Media.cat reveals that over 70% of the news published in seven media outlets with a presence in the territory during the first half of 2022 offer a techno-solutionist perspective, highlighting only the supposed benefits of its implementation. So less than 30% of the pieces reporting AI talk about things like the limits of technology, the risks, and impacts that their implementation can generate.
In social and human rights organizations we find it very difficult to place topics in the editorials because when you knock on the door of a journalist specializing in technology, you derive to different sections within his medium, such as economy, politics, society… because it is not treated from a cross-cutting perspective. Also, expert voices are always those responsible for a technology, never those suffering its consequences,” says Judith Membrives, digitization technique on Lafede.cat.
Challenges, Opportunities, and Challenges
We are heading towards a world where anyone who wants to be well-informed will have to decide to do so. The truthful information starts to be a luxury. In the 19th century, the New York Times turned to its business strategy. Addressing the middle and upper classes it became a means of prestige and distinction in a context where the yellow press reigned. According to Patrícia Ventura, doctor Cum Laude in ethics, artificial intelligence and communication by the UAB and communication consultant, “Perhaps there comes a new moment when this will happen. The media must regain their great ethical values: truth, responsibility, justice, and freedom. Now is a key moment to get them back, because citizenship needs it and journalism remains important,” he said.
Judith Membrives is clear on this. A critical journalism is required, but also a critical citizenship. All digital literacy involves learning how to program, but it does not educate itself in a critical thought of this technology. In many classrooms in Catalonia, students learn to search for information through Google, they are googletizing the head”. But, how do we introduce this critical mind seed from an early age? By requiring academic institutions to make educational policies that open their eyes to digital literacy, by speaking of critical thinking to technology for children and adolescents to learn to discern the information they read.
Artificial Intelligence and Platform Economy
Digital platforms control the rules of play and continue to be implemented without digital sovereignty. How does the application of algorithms in the workplace affect?
June 22, arrives the last session of the cycle #IADretsDemocracy with Platform AI and Economy” with Anna Ginés (State Work Law Professor and Coordinator of the Institute for Labor Studies in Esade),Daniel Cruz Fuentes (Ansponsible for CCOO Digital Analysis and Transformation in Catalonia), Sergi Cutillas (economist and collaborator with EliteTaxi and the Observatory of Labor, Algorithm and Society (TAS). The three experts will put on the table what AI regulation means applied to productive work and platform economy.
