CNET pauses publication of AI-written stories amid controversy

Jan 20, 2023 ·

CNET has recently announced that it is halting the publication of AI-written stories on its website as part of a larger effort to better understand how automated news articles are created and consumed. The tech news site had previously been using AI to generate stories based on headlines, images and other data sources, but found that the results were not up to their editorial standards. As a result, CNET has decided to pause their AI-generated content and work with experts in artificial intelligence to explore how they can improve the quality of these automated stories.

The move comes after a number of reports surfaced about AI-generated stories being published to various news outlets without proper attribution or scrutiny. In one instance, an AI-written story appeared on Forbes' website and was later determined to be falsified. This has caused concern among media organizations, as well as the general public, about the accuracy of AI-generated content.

In response to the growing concern, CNET has assembled a team of experts from various backgrounds to discuss the possibilities of creating accurate and trustworthy AI-generated stories. This includes individuals from academia, industry, media, and civil society. The goal of this team is to create guidelines for both the creation and consumption of automated content. This could include checks for accuracy and transparency of the source material used by AI algorithms, as well as rules around how this content should be labeled when published online.

The implications of this move by CNET go beyond just automated news stories. It raises questions about how AI-generated content will be used in the future, and who will be held accountable if something goes wrong. With the proliferation of AI-based systems, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that these technologies are developed responsibly and with proper oversight. CNET’s decision to pause its AI-generated stories is a step in that direction.