Google is currently in the beta testing phase of its latest generative AI tool, which the company says is meant to assist journalists with their work. AI Experts warn that by 2026, 90% of web content will be AI-generated, giving rise to a potential bonanza of misinformation. (1) Karla Jo Helms, Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™, calls on tech innovators to take the lead in successfully merging the extraordinary advancements in AI with transparency, honesty, and accountability in journalism.

TAMPA BAY, Fla., May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — An 18th-century philosopher and politician once observed, “There are three estates in Parliament, but in the Reporters’ Gallery yonder, there sits a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.” Journalism should be an institution immune from any external forces that might compromise its mission. Independent publishers are currently being compensated in exchange for using Google’s unreleased generative AI platform to write some of their news stories. Does using AI to report current events violate journalistic integrity? Karla Jo Helms, Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™, cautions, “Artificial Intelligence has swiftly moved itself into nearly every facet of our lives, catalyzing a quantum leap in technological innovation. But its global influence presents ethical, legal, and societal challenges, especially in journalism. Leaders in technological innovation should proactively address these concerns to protect media integrity, uphold First Amendment principles, and protect their brand against misinformation in the court of public opinion.”

As part of Google’s News Initiative program, participating publishers can earn a five-figure annual stipend by creating three daily articles, one weekly newsletter, and one monthly marketing campaign using Google’s most recent experimental AI tool. The platform helps publishers aggregate relevant sources from across the internet and then uses generative AI technology to summarize and rewrite the source material into a news story format. Google insists that its AI technology is not meant to replace the essential role of journalists or duplicate other media outlets’ work and that publishers still maintain complete editorial control over what they choose to publish. (2)

Google’s Gemini AI Chatbot will soon take its place next to the Google search bar. The company says, “Google will do the Googling for you.” The information is gleaned from articles and professional insights written by journalists from a wide range of media outlets. News media professionals fear these initiatives will be catastrophic to their already-diminished web traffic and stifle their ability to monetize their content. (3) The legal implications of copyright infringement and intellectual property ownership can also be costly and undermine the moral authority of news reporting.

Helms explains, “The consequences of using artificial intelligence to assume the responsibilities of the Fourth Estate could jeopardize the quality, integrity, and accuracy of news stories.” Publishers are not required to disclose that their content is AI-generated, which can result in misinformation, a lack of investigative and critical analysis, or superficial coverage of complex topics. And despite the outward appearance of being an objective digital entity, AI may produce biased reporting based on the content of their training data. The credibility of news outlets could suffer as more readers realize that the news they have trusted for years is now artificially generated.

A Pew Research Center poll found that 84% of Americans believe that U.S. news organizations are in some way influenced by corporations, financial interests, the government, and political alliances. (4) Disinformation campaigns using AI-generated news stories can destroy a brand’s reputation by spreading lies, propaganda, and unfounded rumors.

Helms, whose Anti-PR agency supports disruptively innovative tech companies in their mission to educate the market via multimedia news channels, issues a call to action: “The tech industry needs to band together to help keep the First Amendment operating at the highest standards for the benefit of all and to protect their brand by facing AI head-on.”

There needs to be a combined effort to implement the following strategies:

1.Promote Ethical AI Development

• Advocate for the development of AI systems that prioritize accuracy, fairness, and transparency.
• Support research and initiatives that work to mitigate biases in AI algorithms.

2. Ensure Transparency

• Encourage news outlets to clearly disclose the use of AI in content creation.
• Develop guidelines for transparent AI usage that can be adopted industry-wide.

3. Support Journalists

• Invest in AI initiatives that enhance the quality of journalistic pursuits.
• Advocate for a balanced approach where AI assists journalists without displacing them.

4. Foster Public Trust

• Engage in public discourse about the ethical use of AI in journalism.
• Support educational programs that inform the public about AI and its implications in media.

5. Develop Ethical Standards

• Collaborate with regulatory bodies to develop and enforce ethical standards for AI in journalism.
• Promote the creation of an independent body to oversee the ethical use of AI in media.

Helms contends, “As AI technology advances, detecting AI’s influence over public sentiment will become increasingly important. It is incumbent upon tech industry leaders to take steps toward advocating for ethical, transparent, and principled journalistic practices to ensure that AI helps to build rather than undermine public trust in the Fourth Estate.”

About JOTO PR Disruptors™
Founded by PR veteran Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR Disruptors™ emerged from extensive market research with CEOs of fast-growth companies. The agency combines crisis management skills with advanced media algorithms to develop Anti-PR® campaigns. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, JOTO PR is globally recognized for its innovative Anti-PR services. More information is available at http://www.jotopr.com.

About Karla Jo Helms
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™.
She learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line—and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinion. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way, and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.

References:
1. “AI Experts Predict by 2026 90 of Online Content.” AI Experts Predict By 2026 90 Of Online Content, idc-a.org/news/industry/AI-Experts-Predict-By-2026-90-Of-Online-Content/127ab0c0-34ba-4c03-8bad-1e4f21923f31. Accessed 20 May 2024.
2. Irwin, Lauren. “Google Paying Independent Publishers to Test Unreleased Generative AI Platform.” The Hill, The Hill, 28 Feb. 2024, thehill.com/policy/technology/4492468-google-paying-independent-publishers-test-unreleased-generative-ai-platform/.
3. Darcy, Oliver. “News Publishers Sound Alarm on Google’s New AI-Infused Search, Warn of ‘catastrophic’ Impacts | CNN Business.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 May 2024, cnn.com/2024/05/15/media/google-gemini-ai-search-news-outlet-impact/index.html.
4. Eddy, Kirsten. “Most Americans Say a Free Press Is Highly Important to Society.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 23 Apr. 2024, pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/04/23/most-americans-say-a-free-press-is-highly-important-to-society/.

Media Inquiries:
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727-777-4619
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Media Contact

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