Google wants to help write the news with AI

CNN’s PM Plug-In is a weekday newsletter to catch you up on important news you may have missed during your busy day. Make sure to subscribe to stay in the know.

Today we’re looking at Google’s proposal to “assist” newsrooms and transform journalism with its artificial intelligence technology. The promise of streamlining and better productivity is clashing with concerns about accuracy and employment – not just for journalists but in other industries too. (And we promise this newsletter was written and edited by humans.)

THE AI PITCH:

• Google says it’s developing an artificial intelligence tool for news publishers that can generate article text and headlines.
• The tech giant says it wants to partner with news outlets “in a way that enhances their work and productivity” with its “assistive” tool.
• Google says it’s focusing on “smaller publishers,” though The New York Times reports that Google pitched the project to them, as well as The Washington Post and News Corp., which owns The Wall Street Journal.

THERE ARE CONCERNS:

• Jobs supplanted? Writers are undoubtedly worried that if a machine can write their articles, they won’t have a job for long. Google insists the project is not aimed at replacing journalists and their “essential role … in reporting, creating, and fact-checking their articles.”
• Uneasiness about reliability: AI tools, which are trained on information online, have raised concerns over their potential to get facts wrong or “hallucinate” responses. News and technology outlet CNET had to issue “substantial” corrections earlier this year after experimenting with using an AI tool to write stories. Gizmodo encountered a similar problem on an AI-written story about “Star Wars.” Both outlets say they’re still moving forward with the technology.

BIG PICTURE:

• Tech companies are racing to develop generative AI applications that can be used in the workplace, with the promise of enhancing workflows and productivity.
• Creatives, including authors and actors, are pushing back in a battle over their writing and performances.
• This week, thousands of published authors requested payment from tech companies for the use of their copyrighted works in training artificial intelligence tools. The list includes celebrated writers such as Margaret Atwood, Dan Brown, James Patterson and Philip Pullman. “Millions of copyrighted books, articles, essays, and poetry provide the ‘food’ for AI systems, endless meals for which there has been no bill,” the open letter says.
• One of the most contentious issues in the ongoing actors strike is the use of AI. The actors union is afraid artificial intelligence will lead to far fewer employed actors because studios could use computers to generate performances by actors who aren’t there – especially the actors in background roles. (AI technology was also used to make Harrison Ford look younger for one more crack of the whip as Indiana Jones.)
• Goldman Sachs estimates as many as 300 million full-time jobs around the world could be automated in some way by the use of AI.

Do you think AI technology could help or hurt industries like journalism and how you get your news? Are you worried that AI could replace you in your job? Share your thoughts in the comments!?

Here are some other stories we're following today:

You’ve probably heard by now that somebody in Los Angeles won a billion dollars in the Powerball lottery. Don't feel bad. There was about a 1-in-300 million chance of it being you. Americans spent $108 billion playing the lottery last year – but the odds will be more in your favor if you invest your lottery ticket money in ways that build wealth.

The number of homicides declined in 30 US cities for the first half of this year, a new report from the Council of Criminal Justice finds. The report analyzed homicide data from cities that make it readily available, including New York, Atlanta and Chicago. The study's authors say a snapshot of their findings suggests that all reported offenses are lower or about the same compared with last year, but above pre-pandemic levels. Read the full story for a further breakdown, including which type of crime went up dramatically.

Tennis ball-sized hail pelted the streets in northern Italy early today, injuring at least 110. The hail – as big as 4 inches in diameter – shattered windows and severely damaged trees. A 53-year-old man on a bike was killed during the surprise storm when he was run over by his wife, who was following him in their car, CNN affiliate Sky24 reports. Italy has been plagued by extreme weather recently, including an ongoing heat wave and "once in a century" deadly flooding in May that researchers say is tied to the climate crisis.

Ukraine has started firing US-provided cluster munitions as part of its counteroffensive against Russia's invasion, sources tell CNN. President Biden decided to send Ukraine the controversial weapons despite the ban on their use by scores of countries, including US allies UK, France and Germany. The "bomblets" that cluster munitions scatter can pose threats to civilians, but Biden and his administration argue the weapons will allow Ukraine to keep firing at Russian targets while the US and other allies re-up Kyiv's supplies of conventional artillery. The US is still waiting for details on how effective the cluster bombs have been on the battlefield, one official tells CNN.

The 2023 Women's World Cup kicked off today. The once-every-four-years soccer tournament is taking place in Australia and New Zealand. Today's opening match in Auckland started on a somber note, with the 40,000-plus fans holding a moment of silence for the two people killed hours before in a shooting at a construction site in the city. A total of 32 teams are playing in this World Cup – the most ever – and the US Women's National Team is looking for repeat success after winning the last two World Cups. The defending champs' first match is Friday evening in US time zones. Check out CNN’s guide to this edition of the tournament, including how to watch and who’s competing. And find out how much the women earn compared to men at World Cups (hint: it’s a pittance).

?? Stay plugged in

We're excited to bring you this PM newsletter each week, Monday through Thursday, from CNN’s Ticker Team right here on LinkedIn. Don't miss the next edition. Subscribe now — and share with colleagues, friends and family.

What did you think of today’s newsletter? Drop a comment below or send thoughts and feedback to [email protected].