Artificial​ ​Intelligence: Practice​ ​and Implications​ ​for Journalism | TOW 2017

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A REPORT FROM THE TOW CENTER FOR DIGITAL JOURNALISM + BROWN INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA INNOVATION says ‘humans need to stay in the loop’ as artificial intelligence develops in journalism. They foresee possibilities for stories otherwise unobtainable with intelligent machines and human journalists working together.

REPRESENTATIVE FINDINGS

Technologists and journalists have a new relationship in pursuit of storytelling.

• Better communication is needed between the data scientists building AI systems and the journalists using them, together with more understanding of each others’ roles. In areas such as ethics and disclosure, this is ‘a must’.
• Common guidelines applicable to both specialties could help. 
• News consumers deserve to know how AI tools have been used.
• Several issues revolve around data: access, integrity in use (including gathering, storage, and disclosure), the potential for hidden bias, and the ethical dimensions associated with each.

There is uncertainly ahead. The report advises ‘vigilance on​ ​the​ ​part​ ​of​ ​both​ ​technologists​ ​and​ ​journalists is​ ​necessary​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​these​ ​systems​ ​in​ ​check.’ 

NOTABLE SECTIONS

• AI in the newsroom
• Automation and personalization
• Algorithms and ethics

AUTHORS

• Mark Hansen, Brown Institute for Media Innovation
• Meritxell Roca-Sales, Tow Center for Digital Journalism
• Jon Keegan, Tow Center for Digital Journalism
• George King, Tow Center for Digital Journalism

SEE FULL REPORT

Artificial​ ​Intelligence: Practice​ ​and Implications​ ​for Journalism
TOW CENTER FOR DIGITAL JOURNALISM + BROWN INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA INNOVATION | September 2017