The New York Times has authorized the use of AI tools for its product and editorial teams. This decision allows staff to utilize AI for various tasks, including writing social media copy, creating SEO headlines, and coding.
The announcement came via an internal email, introducing a new AI summary tool called Echo. Along with this tool, the publication outlined a range of AI products available for staff to develop web products and generate editorial ideas.
Editorial teams are encouraged to use AI for tasks such as suggesting edits, brainstorming interview questions, and conducting research. However, strict guidelines prohibit the use of AI for drafting or significantly revising articles and for inputting confidential source information.
Additionally, the guidelines indicate potential future applications of AI, such as digitally voiced articles and translations into other languages. The Times has approved specific AI programs for use, including GitHub Copilot for coding, Google’s Vertex AI for product development, and various Amazon AI products, among others.
This move to embrace AI tools occurs amid an ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, where The New York Times alleges copyright violations related to the training of generative AI on its content.
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