Google partners with some publishers to create news content using AI

Recently, Adweek reported thatgoogleis entering into a partnership agreement with select publishers to utilize advanced generativeartificial intelligence (AI)(AI) tools to create news content. The program is considered part of the Google News Initiative (GNI), which aims to advance journalism by providing news organizations with a variety of resources, such as media literacy programs, fact-checking tools, and more.

Of note, the partnership is specifically aimed at a "handful" of small publishers, with Google providing test tools designed to help these resource-constrained publishers create aggregated content more efficiently. Specifically, the tools will be able to index recently published stories from government agencies and other news outlets, then summarize those stories and generate new articles.

While it's unclear exactly how much publishers will be paid through the partnership, it's reportedly in the "five-figure" range per year. In exchange, participating media organizations are required to publish at least three articles per day using the tools, as well as a weekly press release and a monthly marketing campaign. It's worth noting that these publishers are not required to publicly disclose the fact that they're using AI, and the websites whose content is being syndicated will not receive any notification.

In a statement in response to Adweek, Google said they are currently in an "exploratory phase" to develop AI tools that may help journalists in their work. At the same time, Google emphasized that these AI tools are not meant to replace journalists, but rather serve as an aid to their work.

The partnership has sparked industry debate about the role of AI in news content creation. Despite concerns that AI could replace journalists' jobs, Google insists that the tools are designed to help journalists, not replace them. Additionally, it raises questions about the authenticity and transparency of AI-generated content, as publishers using these tools are not required to disclose that their content is generated by AI.

Google's partnership with select publishers marks a new attempt to use AI technology in news content creation. Although this program is still in the exploratory stage, it will undoubtedly have a profound impact on journalism. In the future, we look forward to seeing more innovative practices on the combination of AI and journalism.