AI-driven news. The launch of Channel1.ai

So, this is news…

Channel1 is launching an AI-driven news channel next year (2024).

This can be picked apart on many levels. Technology: wow! But with bias and disinformation increasingly a concern, will AI be the hero or villain?

Channel 1 explains in this video how it intends to navigate concerns about editorial integrity, but as this technology takes off more broadly, we can't assume the absence of bad actors elsewhere.

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The scourge of bias and disinformation today

Bias is not new. It predates today's polarising issues: Brexit, Trump, [insert your poison here] but – like those topics – perceptions are often subjective.

22% of respondents in a 2018 BMG study believed the BBC favoured left-wing views, while 18% perceived a bias towards the right. Unsurprisingly, these views correlated strongly with the respondents’ established political leanings.

Whilst the BBC has a Charter – Section 4 of which deals with impartiality – that’s not the case for all channels. GB News for example, has members of the current (Conservative) government presenting shows.

In the US, Fox News TV and CNN are notable channels occupying different sides of a widening social divide. Both are seen as biased, but the bias perceived by citizens is influenced – again not surprisingly – by their own socio-political views.

Around the world, news outlets running wide of the central path claim to deliver facts that the mainstream media (MSM) won’t report. Yet those “facts” typically fit the stations’ partisan narratives, so that positioning seems somewhat disingenuous.

With or without AI, the current direction of travel leaves us very much at the mercy of “alternative facts” and weakened democracies.

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Are we doomed or can we change the story?

Left unfettered, it’s easy to see how AI could add to the problem of bias and disinformation. So, could better regulation solve this concern, and what would that mean?

Compelling news channels to disclose their AI algorithms might foster a better-informed public. The transparency could serve as a much-needed filter, revealing the mechanics behind the news - separating factual reporting from engineered narratives.

And that’s not completely without precedent. In 2017 Wikipedia stated publicly that the Daily Mail was not considered a reliable source of information and editors should seek other sources (and prefer those) when making citations.

Whatever one’s views on the Daily Mail (feel free to argue it out in the comments section!) or if this command was reasonable, it at least gave readers transparency into how Wikipedia wanted its editors to work.

Now imagine that principle applied to AI-generated news. Regulators, the public, and advertisers alike, could read the algorithms to ascertain if bias is merely perceived or is it, and to what extent, hardcoded into the DNA of a news channel’s processes and outputs.?????

Further benefits include news companies regaining trust among viewers. People would have a clearer understanding of how stories are selected and presented and could discern potential bias inherent in AI-driven content. This transparency isn't just about exposing bias; it's about empowering audiences to critically evaluate the information they're consuming.

Moreover, it would encourage news outlets to refine their algorithms towards greater impartiality. Knowing that their algorithmic choices are subject to public scrutiny, news companies might be more inclined to ensure their AI promotes balanced reporting. This doesn't mean necessarily eradicating perspectives, but rather presenting a diverse range of views.

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What about innovation and IP?

Could revealing proprietary algorithms stifle innovation or infringe on intellectual property rights? Maybe. However, the benefits of more factual, unbiased information arguably outweigh that. Further, regulations could be structured to protect intellectual property while still ensuring adequate transparency.

The key then seems to lie in regulation. Without clear guidelines, the integration of AI in news production could exacerbate the very problems it could otherwise solve. But with well-thought-out policies, we could steer this technology towards a future where AI doesn't just mimic human biases but helps us overcome them.

And finally…

Channel1AI (and the wider adoption of AI-driven news) isn't inherently a threat to impartial journalism. Instead, it presents an opportunity to redefine news production in a way that prioritises factual correctness and diversity of perspectives.

By mandating transparency in AI algorithms, we could pave the way for a more informed audience, leading to a healthier public discourse.

The future of news could be brighter with AI, but only if we navigate its integration with foresight and responsibility.

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What’s your take? AI in news: A possible answer or an impending disaster? #AINews #Channel1AI #FutureOfNews