It may have sounded like sheer make-believe a few years back, but it has now become reality: robots are beginning to replace real journalists. Although this is merely a new aspect of the old problem of machines replacing human beings, this topic has journalists worried about losing their jobs. The case of the Los Angeles Times having released a news report only 3 minutes after an earthquake is a clear example of the efficiency of such writing algorithms. But coupled with the layoffs taking place at the L.A. Times, this event has made journalists apprehensive. Are their worries justified though? The answer is twofold.
One the one hand, the US has seen an increase in the use of automated writing technology. Systems like Quill, created by Narrative Science, or Wordsmith, produced by Automated Insights, are currently being tested by firms like Gannett and Yahoo news. Such systems can do the work that required the effort of many people and that cost abundant time and money, and this has made some think that robot journalists will even be able to win the Pulitzer Prize. But is it really possible for a robot to be possessed of the infinite creativity, depth, innovation that are characteristic of some human beings? Professor Yuval Harari, Israeli historian and author, evades creativity and states that consciousness can be attained by machines.
“The idea that humans will always have a unique ability beyond the reach of non-conscious algorithms is just wishful thinking. It is based on the traditional assumption that intelligence and consciousness are inextricably linked to one another. For millions of years of evolution, this may have been true. But no longer,” says Harari to CNN.
On the other hand, there are those who are optimistic. Kevin Roose from New York magazine, for instance, believes that talent cannot be mimicked and is the stuff of humanity. Automated writing, in his opinion, only shows how stilted journalism can be without a human touch. He adds that he is not afraid of losing his job to a computer, as he is convinced that algorithms will only be effective in dealing with mundane and dull information. Infolab researcher, Kris Hammond, also believes that the algorithms will not be replacing real journalists, but that the published material will increase.