The use of generative artificial intelligence in journalism has come to light after Powell Tribune reporter CJ Baker discovered that a reporter from a competing news outlet had used AI to help write stories. The reporter admitted to using AI in articles and subsequently resigned from the Cody Enterprise. The publication has since issued an apology and vowed to take steps to prevent it from happening again.
AI has been used in journalism to automate certain tasks, such as translating articles or assisting with financial reports. However, using generative AI to create publishable content is not widely accepted, with most newsrooms, including The Associated Press, prohibiting its use by staff.
The scandal involving the Cody Enterprise highlights the potential pitfalls and dangers of AI in journalism. The AI-generated articles contained fake quotes attributed to public figures, leading to a loss of credibility for the publication. Additionally, AI-generated stories have also been criticized for lacking authenticity and potentially misleading readers.
Moving forward, the Cody Enterprise plans to implement a policy regarding the use of AI in journalism. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and ethics in journalism, as well as the need for guidelines to govern the use of AI in news reporting.
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