The "seismic" named AI in editorial offices
Looking back at the 10-year journey, journalists like us were proud to successfully transition from a traditional editorial model to a multimedia converged editorial. We learn how to do SEO, learn how to analyze reader data using Google Analytics. However, the emergence of Generative AI (Generative AI) like ChatGPT, Claude or Midjourney in the past two years has truly been an "earthquake".
Currently, AI is directly impacting the news production process at many different levels. At the most basic level, AI is used as a diligent "editor-in-chief". AI removes interview recordings, translates international news reports, summarizes hundreds of pages of financial reports in just a few seconds. At a more complex level, many major news agencies in the world such as AP, Reuters or Bloomberg have used AI to automatically produce financial news reports, election results or abstract weather forecasts. Clearly, AI is reshaping the entire information supply chain, from data collection, content production to distribution.
Liberating labor and personalizing experiences
From the perspective of a journalist, it can be seen that AI is first of all a great tool to help "liberate labor" for writers.
In Vietnam, although the level of application has not reached complete automation, it is not difficult to encounter the "footprints" of AI in journalistic products. Virtual MCs have appeared more and more on television news and online newspapers; Text-to-Speech technology has become a standard feature on online newspapers, helping to diversify ways of approaching readers.
AI software is also supporting graphic design, creating illustrations for articles.
Journalism is inherently associated with time pressure and harsh KPI output. Previously, a reporter could spend the whole morning just listening to interview recordings and handwriting each word, or struggling with huge investigation documents to find an unusual number. Now, Big Data tools integrated with AI can do it in the blink of an eye. This support helps reporters and editors escape manual, repetitive, and mechanical jobs.
When no longer exhausted by "copy-paste" operations or picking up petty news, reporters will have more space and time to invest in high-quality journalistic works such as in-depth investigative articles, role-playing reports, or commentary articles with a strong personal imprint.
In addition, the impact of AI on content distribution is also a turning point. Thanks to machine learning algorithms, modern newspapers can accurately analyze the habits, preferences and reading behaviors of each reader. From there, the editorial office can "personalize" the content, proposing the right articles that readers are interested in, at the right time they are most receptive to. This not only helps retain readers longer but also optimizes revenue from advertising.
Challenges of ethics, copyright and the problem of fake news
However, every technological revolution has two sides. The rise of AI brings unprecedented challenges to the integrity and existence of journalism.
First, the problem of fake news (Fake News) and Deepfake. Generative AI technology is blurring the line between truth and lies. Now, anyone connected to the internet can create a perfect fake photo of an arrested politician, or a fake video of a famous person making shocking statements. For an official information channel like the press, this is a terrible threat. If editorial offices are not equipped with enough technology and verification filters, they can easily become victims or worse, tools to spread fake news of hostile forces.
Second, the story of copyright and journalistic ethics. Large language models like ChatGPT are trained based on collecting billions of data from the internet, including millions of copyrighted journalistic works without paying fees or asking for permission. Works written by journalists with sweat and tears are stirred up, summarized and provided to users for free, cutting off traffic to the original newspaper pages.
Third, the threat to the work of the media. This is a harsh reality that we have to face. Reporters who specialize in writing "salon" news, editors who specialize in reshaping information online, or low-level positions in the media content production process are facing the risk of losing their jobs. When a $20 USD/month software can write 100 standard SEO news articles per day, editorial offices will definitely reconsider their personnel problem.
Can AI replace journalists?
The answer is: No, AI cannot replace journalists, but journalists who know how to use AI will replace journalists who do not know how to use them.
We need to clearly recognize the limits of machines. AI can synthesize excellent information, but AI does not know how to roll up their pants and wade down to the flood center of the Central region to reflect people's cries for help. AI can write smooth sentences, but AI cannot look deeply into the eyes of a wrongly laid-off worker to write a reportage full of empathy and anger. AI has no conscience, no political sensitivity and no keen instinct for the thorny issues of society.
To survive and develop in the new era, journalists are forced to reposition ourselves. We must shift from being mere "writers" to the roles of information analysts, storytellers and truth verifiers. At the same time, "communication" skills with AI will become a basic professional standard, just like computer or internet skills of previous generations.
The development of AI is not a grave buried by the press, but it is a necessary boost for the press to self-purify and upgrade itself. At Lao Dong Newspaper alone, the motto of protecting workers' rights, fighting for justice will never change, whether the transmission tool is printed paper, phone screen, computer or the support of an intelligent algorithm.
