Cover art by Katrina McGaughey
In November 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, a chatbot application powered by (what was then) its most advanced text-generating AI system: GPT-3. ChatGPT’s ability to produce clever, well-written text in response to users’ prompts had many journalists wondering: how will this new breed of text-generating AI, known as large language models, affect the journalism industry, especially newswriting?
In January, we got our first taste of what this AI-driven future might look like. US online tech news site CNET was caught quietly experimenting with an as-yet-unspecified large language model tool. They used it for over 70 financial explainers—but without publicly announcing the initiative. Even by CNET’s own admission, the results were mixed.
It’s an issue that didn’t make it into the magazine, so we thought we’d devote this, the first episode of the sixth season of Pull Quotes, to large language model tools and their potential to disrupt the journalism industry.
First, we talked to a computer scientist, who explained how these tools are built and how they work. Then, we turned to a newsroom digital developer. His experience developing other forms of text-generating AI tools means he is ideally suited to assess the new technology’s potential impact on news journalism.
Guests:
Alona Fyshe is an associate professor of computing science at the University of Alberta’s faculty of science. In her research, she combines computational linguistics, machine learning and neuroscience to study how large language models process language—compared to how the human brain does so.
Lucas Timmons is a digital developer for data-driven content at Torstar Corporation, where he works on newsroom automation. Among other things, he creates tools that source and process data, which they can then use to automatically generate stories. Before then, he was the head of the Canadian Press’s digital data desk.
Further reading:
I, Reporter: How “robojournalism” can save local news—the Review of Journalism
The Threat of “Deep Fake” Text Generation: Pull Quotes Series 3, Episode 10—the Review of Journalism
How The Canadian Press is using bots to build the future of election coverage—J-Source
COVID-19 with automated journalism: leveraging innovation in times of crisis—Columbia Journalism School’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism
How do computers understand meaning and language? | Alona Fyshe—the Walrus
GitHub Copilot: Your AI pair programmer
Create production-grade machine learning models with TensorFlow
Please check out the Spring 2023 issue of the Review of Journalism at https://reviewofjournalism.ca/. Even better, buy a print copy. When you do, look out for Charlize Alcarez’s feature about another newsroom use of AI: the Globe and Mail’s AI-powered content curation tool—Sophi.
You can find the Review of Journalism on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
This episode of Pull Quotes was written by Tim Cooke; produced by Angela Glover; and fact-checked by Stephanie Davoli. Silas Le Blanc was the sound-designer and editor.
Tara De Boer was the production assistant. The executive producer was Sonya Fatah.
About the author
Silas Le Blanc is a second-year Master of Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has previously worked as the Sports Editor and Managing Online Editor at The Varsity, and as an intern at Xtra, and at The Logic. She is currently the news coordinator at CJRU 1280AM, and does production for CBC’s Cross Country Checkup. In her spare time she listens to SOPHIE, Charli XCX, and Bladee.
Tara De Boer is a second-year Master of Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University. She holds a BA of Honours Arts and Business from the University of Waterloo, with a major in Speech Communication. Tara is a writer for CTVNews.ca and has bylines in Maclean’s digital magazine and Toronto Life with a special focus in culture, sports, entertainment and health. Prior to this, she interned as an associate producer for CBC News Network where she chased breaking news stories and co-produced live television news segments.
Tim Cooke is a second-year Master of Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University. He did his bachelor’s in History and Classics at the University of Toronto. He loves journalism that explores the historical background of current affairs. Last summer, he interned at documentary film production company Primitive Entertainment, working as a production intern on TVO Original Viral News and helping to research a forthcoming project. He hopes to work in documentary film and audio.
