Why CNET is experimenting with AI to write stories

Connie Guglielmo of CNET writes about why the tech news site is using artificial intelligence software in some of its writing.

Guglielmo writes, “The goal: to see if the tech can help our busy staff of reporters and editors with their job to cover topics from a 360-degree perspective. Will this AI engine efficiently assist them in using publicly available facts to create the most helpful content so our audience can make better decisions? Will this enable them to create even more deeply researched stories, analyses, features, testing and advice work we’re known for?

“I use the term ‘AI assist’ because while the AI engine compiled the story draft or gathered some of the information in the story, every article on CNET – and we publish thousands of new and updated stories each month – is reviewed, fact-checked and edited by an editor with topical expertise before we hit publish. That will remain true as our policy no matter what tools or tech we use to create those stories.

“Our reputation as a fact-based, unbiased source of news and advice is based on being transparent about how we work and the sources we rely on. So in the past 24 hours, we’ve changed the byline to CNET Money and moved our disclosure so you won’t need to hover over the byline to see it: ‘This story was assisted by an AI engine and reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff.’ We always note who edited the story so our audience understands which expert influenced, shaped and fact-checked the article.”

Read more here.