Artificial intelligence needs trusted journalism
As people increasingly rely on AI chatbots for news, siphoning traffic and profits from outlets often operating on a shoestring budget, good journalism is at risk of disappearing.
Artificial intelligence chatbots are increasingly replacing traditional news sources, putting the survival of trustworthy journalism at risk. The political philosopher Hannah Arendt warned that "Freedom of opinion is a farce unless factual information is guaranteed and the facts themselves are not in dispute." Reliable journalism has been a crucial foundation for democratic societies.
However, as more people turn to AI chatbots for news, these outlets, often operating on limited budgets, face significant threats. Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO's assistant director general for communication and information, emphasized at the World News Media Congress that "Support for journalism is not a luxury. It is democratic infrastructure."
In response, UNESCO has drafted guidance on fair compensation for news, aiming to protect and sustain the institutions that provide critical information. AI firms must recognize their responsibility in supporting journalism, as their models rely on knowledge discovered, verified, reported, edited, and published by human journalists.
Analysis of over 680 million citations across popular chatbots reveals that journalism accounts for 27% of them, rising to 49% for queries about recent events. This dependence on accurate and up-to-date information from human journalists is vital for AI to maintain credibility. Supporting journalism would also improve public trust in AI systems, currently at just 20% globally.
UNESCO's proposal aims to address the current issues by establishing a framework with shared responsibility, transparency, and attribution obligations, while protecting human rights and media freedom. This includes bargaining codes, competition remedies, public and platform-financed funds, and collective licensing for smaller and local media.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
