The AI Hour

People were amazed as Sana read the news. Why? Because Sana isn’t human—she’s AI-powered. But does that stop people from watching the news? Not at all!
India Today group introduced its first full-time AI news anchor in April 2023—a bot named Sana, who delivers news updates multiple times a day on the the Group’s Aaj Tak news channel. At the event, India Today Group’s Vice Chairperson, Kalli Purie said, “She is bright, beautiful, ageless, and tireless.”

Newsrooms like ABP Network are also developing their own internal AI tool to address various aspects of newsroom functions. “Our AI news anchor, Aira, has generated significant buzz. Furthermore, we’ve developed an AI-powered repository of stock images, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional representational images in news media,” said an ABP spokesperson.

ABP utilises AI to support core journalism, enhancing capabilities in two key areas: Refinement and Enhancement.

For Refinement, they have incorporated AI technology in input platforms to streamline information processing. AI assists in analysing complex documents and reports, extracting essential information, and summarising content, enabling editors to craft engaging journalistic pieces. For Enhancement, the focus is on creating a superior user experience.

In the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism, artificial intelligence (AI) is not just an emerging tool—it’s a game-changer. From automating mundane tasks to enhancing content personalisation, AI is revolutionising newsrooms globally. Journalists are now harnessing AI to analyse extensive data sets, uncover insights, and assist in real-time reporting, significantly boosting efficiency and accuracy. Yet, this technological leap also introduces ethical dilemmas and operational challenges, urging newsrooms to strike a delicate balance between innovation and journalistic integrity.

Rishabh Gulati, editor-in-chief, NewsX says, “For writing and research, we rely on ChatGPT. For image production, we use a tool called 24AI, and we also utilise DALL – E for creating images.”

ChatGPT has emerged as a powerful writing tool in newsrooms by offering quick, coherent text generation and enhanced creative assistance. It aids in drafting, editing, and brainstorming ideas, streamlining content creation for various needs. Its adaptability to different writing styles and subjects makes it an invaluable asset for writers and content creators.

CNN – News 18 also uses ChatGPT for concise writing and grammar mistakes. “This is very useful for the first cut in transcribing long interviews that need to be aired quickly. It helps save time, though we run another check to ensure accuracy.” says Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor, CNN-News18.

Newsrooms used AI extensively while reporting the 2024 Indian general elections. One such news broadcaster was the India Today Group. “We have also used AI quite well in this election. It has really helped us in translating, transcribing and doubling up our efforts in the magic that we create through our stories. The purpose of any media organisation is to tell the best stories to as many people as possible. And there is no better time than elections to do it.” says Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief, India Today Group.

During breaking news events, AI tools map competition or suggest topics and work as an assistant to the editor. “While the responsibility for timely execution still lies with the editor, the helpful content suggestions expedite follow-up stories.” says an ABP spokesperson.

Rishabh Gulati believes AI anchors might replace human anchors for reading news, but not for news coverage. “In a breaking news situation, an AI anchor is unable to manage the dynamic environment. Currently, AI anchors are only used for reading pre-written scripts.” he says.

However, using AI in newsrooms brings up ethical issues. There are worries about AI making mistakes or showing bias, as it can reflect the prejudices found in the data it learns from. Another concern is that, relying too much on AI might weaken the quality of journalism and reduce human supervision.

ABP Network understands the hazards of over-reliance on AI, including its innate biases and potential “hallucinations.” To avoid these issues, AI’s participation in the network is currently directed only towards the by-products of writing, and not in the main line of production.

“Because AI is not 100% accurate, we can’t rely on it completely. Even if it performs well, most of the time, a single mistake is unacceptable in journalism, where accuracy is of utmost importance.” says Rishabh Gulati. “Using AI should be normalised, but we must remember that it’s like Wikipedia—you can’t assume everything on it is true, just because it’s there.”

Zakka Jacob said that, AI significantly helped with the cost cutting for their organisation while ABP is of the opinion that AI technology has enabled them to streamline operational processes, leading to significant time saving. “By automating repetitive tasks that require minimal manual intervention, such as generating Product Pages through AI, we can redirect resources to higher-value activities. The time freed up by AI allows our editors to focus on creating more meaningful and engaging content, ultimately enhancing our overall output.” a ABP spokesperson said.

Niraj Ruparel says, “The most impactful future applications of AI in broadcast journalism will likely include advanced data analytics for predictive journalism, where AI can anticipate news trends and emerging stories.” AI-driven personalisation is set to become increasingly advanced, offering more customised news experiences for each viewer. Additionally, immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have the potential to revolutionise storytelling in news, making it more engaging and interactive for audiences, he added.

Quoting Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc and Google, “AI is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on.” But this groundbreaking technology is a hot debate in newsrooms: will AI make work easier? As AI lifts the burden of routine work, it forces news broadcasters to reconsider workforce dynamics - balancing technological advancements with core journalistic values.