On December 29, the Council of Europe declared its intent to implement guidelines for the responsible incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism. The Council’s Intergovernmental Steering Committee on Media and the Information Society endorsed the guidelines, initially disclosed on November 30, emphasizing their significance in fostering a rule of law-based and human rights-compliant public communication sector.
These guidelines offer practical advice to key stakeholders, particularly news media organizations, as well as states, technology providers, and digital platforms disseminating news. They delve into various stages of journalistic production impacted by AI systems, including the initial decision to employ AI and the integration of AI tools into newsrooms by media organizations.
A focal point of the guidelines is the impact of AI on audiences and society, outlining responsibilities for technology providers, platforms, and member states. The Council of Europe, comprised of 46 European countries and headquartered in Strasbourg, France, is dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
In the evolving landscape of AI adoption, journalism has experienced diverse reactions. Channel 1 AI’s announcement of an AI-operated newsroom set to launch in 2024 for personalized news delivery contrasts with traditional newsrooms grappling with copyright concerns. Notably, Axel Springer’s mid-December collaboration with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its journalism reflects a more mainstream acceptance of AI.
However, challenges persist, with some newsrooms alleging illegal training of AI models on their content. A recent example is The New York Times’ lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft on December 27, accusing them of misusing its content in model training.
For a comprehensive overview of AI developments in 2023, explore our “ultimate 2023 AI guide.”
