Discover How Quartz is Revolutionizing Journalism with AI-Generated News Articles

Quartz, the renowned international business news outlet, has recently taken an innovative approach by utilizing AI technology to generate articles under the label “Quartz Intelligence Newsroom.” This move marks a significant shift in how news is reported and aggregated, raising questions about the implications of AI in journalism.

Quartz’s Transition to AI-Generated Articles

Initially, Quartz began by publishing straightforward AI-generated earnings reports several months ago. However, last week, the publication expanded its AI capabilities to produce short articles. As of Monday afternoon, Quartz had released 18 AI-generated pieces, including the one titled “South Korea shares preliminary findings on Jeju Air crash investigation,” which compiles reporting from reputable sources such as CNN, MSN, and The Associated Press.

Characteristics of AI-Generated Content

Each of Quartz’s AI-generated articles typically spans around 400 words and notably lacks complete quotes from its sources. Instead of embedding attributions throughout the text as traditional journalists do, Quartz’s AI only references its sources at the beginning of each article.

Quality Control and Editorial Oversight

A spokesperson for G/O Media, Quartz’s parent company, confirmed the existence of this “purely experimental” AI newsroom, although they did not disclose the specific AI models or tools used for content creation. The aim, as stated, is to allow the editorial team to focus on more comprehensive and in-depth reporting. Each AI-generated article is reviewed by the editorial staff prior to publication.

Critiques and Challenges of AI Journalism

Despite the editorial review, some concerns about quality have arisen. For example, an article summarizing how to delete social media accounts was criticized for its vague instructions. The headline, “How to delete your Facebook, Instagram, and Threads right now,” may suggest a detailed guide, but the article fell short in clarity.

• Facebook: Navigate to “Settings & Privacy,” then select “Account Ownership and Control.” Note that account deletion is irreversible.
• Instagram: Use the Account Center or settings to download your data before deleting.
• Threads: Remove the linked Instagram account to delete your Threads profile.

Furthermore, some headlines produced by Quartz’s AI, such as “Jobless claims rise slightly as continuing claims set a record,” have been criticized for their contradictory nature.

Concerns Over AI Content in Journalism

G/O Media, owned by private equity firm Great Hill Partners, faced backlash in July 2023 for publishing AI-generated content riddled with errors, prompting objections from journalists at G/O-owned outlets like Gizmodo. The editorial director at the time defended these practices, revealing an ongoing debate over the role of AI in journalism.

Economic Implications of AI Journalism

The utilization of AI-generated content provides publishers like Quartz a cost-effective solution, eliminating the need for salaries and benefits associated with human writers. According to the G/O spokesperson, reader engagement with AI stories has “far exceeded our expectations.”

Moreover, they addressed rumors of financial struggles, asserting that the company is “very well funded” and actively hiring more editorial staff in light of recent site sales in 2024.

AI in the Broader Media Landscape

Quartz is not alone in its exploration of AI-generated content. Other media organizations, including CNET and Gannett, have also experimented with AI, sometimes resulting in factually incorrect stories. For instance, Sports Illustrated has been criticized for using fabricated bylines in its AI-generated articles.

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