The AI News Takeover Has Begun — Don’t Get Left Behind
From the BBC’s new AI unit to Il Foglio’s fully AI-written edition and The Independent’s Gemini-powered summaries, the media game is changing fast. Whether you’re pitching or publishing, you need to know what’s at stake.
Okay, buckle up. What if I told you that breaking news is now being written, edited, and even PRESENTED by AI? Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? Spoiler alert: It’s happening. And not in some distant future—right now, right under our noses.
Mind. Blown.
As a journalism professor at SF State, I’ve seen some wild tech transformations. But this? This is next-level wild. Let me drop some mind-blowing examples:
- BBC News is building an entire AI department to serve up personalized content like it’s Netflix for news.
- The Independent is using Google’s Gemini to summarize articles (with human journalists doing a final check, thank goodness).
- And get this: Il Foglio, an Italian newspaper, went FULL robot and published an ENTIRE edition written by AI.
This isn’t hypothetical anymore. This. Is. Happening.
The Sneaky AI Journalism Revolution
Here’s a fun fact: AI has been low-key infiltrating newsrooms for years. When nobody was paying attention, AI quietly slid into the workflow.
- Back in 2014, the Associated Press started automating financial reports.
- The Washington Post’s Heliograph tool covered the 2016 election. There were no big headlines, just quiet tech magic happening behind the scenes.
None of that grabbed headlines, but those shifts were major steps toward what’s happening now.
Now, tools like Descript and Adobe Premiere Pro are quietly making everyday editing faster and smoother.
Key Uses of AI in Broadcast News
Here’s where AI is really showing up:
- Real-Time Captioning and Translation: Have you ever noticed how captions pop up during live broadcasts almost instantly? That’s AI quietly working in the background—and it’s constantly getting better.
- Deep Fake Detection: With so much manipulated content floating around, AI is helping journalists spot the fakes before they fool audiences.
- Automated Content Creation: Some outlets are experimenting with AI to generate breaking news updates or summarize articles. It’s not perfect (more on that in a sec), but it’s happening.
- AI-Generated Visuals and Graphics: Once upon a time, creating on-screen graphics took hours. Now, AI can whip them up in minutes—and they often look just as sharp.
The Importance of Human Oversight
Here’s the thing: AI is powerful, but it’s also flawed. It’s like that overconfident friend who always chimes in with random “facts.” Sometimes they’re right, sometimes not—and AI’s no different. It can fabricate quotes, misunderstand facts, or pull data from biased sources. That’s why journalists need to stay in control. AI is a tool, not a replacement.
Practical Tips for Journalists Using AI
- Indicate AI Use: Be transparent about when AI is involved in your content. Audiences deserve to know.
- Fact-check everything: Even when AI content sounds solid, double-check it. AI can be convincing—and wrong.
- Know Your Newsroom’s AI Policy: Some organizations embrace AI; others limit its use. Know the rules before diving in.
So… Where Does That Leave Us?
AI, in its current form, is here to shift the stage, not steal the spotlight.
It’s streamlining workflows, pushing boundaries, and raising real questions about truth, trust, and transparency. But it also holds the potential to enhance journalistic work, making us feel optimistic and open-minded about its role in the industry.
What is the best thing we can do right now? Stay curious. Stay skeptical. Stay human. And most importantly, stay responsible and empowered by exercising critical thinking.
Let’s figure this out together.
Credit: Original research from BECA 460 lecture | AI-assisted writing and editing | Human oversight and final review
Leave a Reply