Is Journalism Real? How AI Is Replacing Journalists

Many fears and many mixed opinions collide when it comes to the relationship between artificial intelligence and journalism. Although it is a major technological advancement, its limitations cannot be ignored.

The disappearance of artistic careers, such as graphic designers, raises concerns. Why pay a graphic designer when AI can create an image for free and in just a few seconds?

Why write a book when an AI can do it quickly and without any effort on my part?

These are questions that many people are asking themselves, and they apply to many different professions. However, in this article, we will focus specifically on the relationship between journalism and artificial intelligence.

That is the main purpose of this article: to inform, to raise awareness, and even to help.

To begin this investigation, we must ask an essential question: impact. The impact on our lives, our work, our income, the news, and more.

Because there are impacts, and they are not only negative.

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#1: Lies or Truth?

AI is a powerful tool for information research. On December 21, 2023, The New York Times even used it to detect bomb craters in satellite images of Gaza, helping to demonstrate strikes in civilian areas. Instead of spending hours searching for sources and information online, you ask ChatGPT a question and receive a summary of everything… isn’t that fantastic?

However, one positive aspect leads directly to a major drawback: the production of misleading content. ChatGPT relies on websites that may or may not be truthful to generate its responses. As a result, the information provided may be false.

That is why it is essential to always verify information before writing about it. In addition, one must truly understand the subject.

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#2: The Depth of Understanding

Reading a summary and checking its sources is useful, but as you know, a summary remains a summary. It may sound obvious, but ten lines are rarely enough to write a good article.

To write about a subject, I believe one must understand it. This means reading multiple articles, considering different opinions, and even watching videos on the topic, taking notes if necessary.

This brings us to one of the most controversial aspects of AI: the reduction of effort.

AI can do things for us, and even think for us. You don’t want to do your homework? AI.

You need to give a presentation about frogs? AI. And most importantly: you need to write an article and do research? AI.

We no longer take the time to search through books, online articles, or ask the opinion of someone close to us. We choose dopamine, speed and ease, instead of reflection, even though research is how we learn.

When someone understands a subject, it shows in their writing — and the opposite is just as true. Therefore, the fear that journalism may decline in quality with the rise of AI should not be ignored.

We have seen what artificial intelligence writes for us and does for us. Now, let us examine what it replaces.

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#3: Job Losses

At the French magazine Le Point, approximately 58 positions were eliminated. The most affected department was proofreading and editing, which will be replaced by artificial intelligence.

The decision was justified as a way to “strengthen the newspaper’s agility in the digital era.” But does that mean machines will now correct journalistic articles?

Speed was certainly one of the main reasons behind this decision, but an important factor was overlooked: quality.

Many see this as downsizing, and I largely agree. In my opinion, this decision was far from a good one. AI may have a certain level of competence, but a programming error or a cyberattack could render the entire system useless.

Moreover, AI cannot offer human criticism or judgment. Most importantly, it lacks perspective, could it accept something that should not be accepted?

So what exactly are its skills in this field? What does it truly do better than humans?

#4: AI Scores a Point

Of course, there are many disadvantages, but artificial intelligence also has strengths that cannot be denied.

- Large-scale data analysis: investigative journalists can now entrust AI with sorting through millions of documents. During the Panama Papers investigation, algorithms analyzed 11.5 million files in just a few hours, identifying patterns that would have taken humans years to detect. This frees up time for deeper analysis.

- Rapid fact-checking: automated fact-checking tools such as ClaimBuster or Full Fact instantly compare statements with verified databases unlike ChatGPT, which relies on random online sources. During political debates, these systems detect false claims in real time, allowing journalists to respond immediately.

- Continuous information monitoring: algorithms scan thousands of sources 24/7 in multiple languages, alerting newsrooms to potential breaking news. This constant monitoring enhances media responsiveness to global events.

These are the three most important advantages. One could also add speed and lower costs compared to human employees. However, behind all these benefits, there are undeniable realities.

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#5: Undeniable Limits

Yes, AI is fast, free, and efficient. But humans also have three major strengths:

- Empathy and ethical judgment: a machine cannot possess the same sensitivity as a human being, nor the same moral judgment. AI relies on data, but writing a good article sometimes requires basic human decency. For example, a journalist interviewing war survivors will adapt their questions and respect moments of silence something AI would not consider.

- Repetitive reproduction: artificial intelligence is a program with habits repeated words, expressions, and sometimes even recurring errors. A 2024 MIT study shows that language models systematically reproduce racist and sexist stereotypes present in their training data. Without critical awareness, AI amplifies discrimination instead of challenging it.

- Contextual understanding: in 2023, when ChatGPT generated an article about the Iranian protests, the text was factually accurate but lacked an understanding of the political, religious, and historical context. AI aggregates facts without grasping their social meaning.

Now that we have examined both the positive and negative impacts, why not look for solutions?

Conclusion

Although this is a complex subject, when used correctly, artificial intelligence can remain a valuable asset.

Instead of asking it to write your article, ask it to suggest reliable sources. Instead of spending hours correcting simple spelling mistakes, ask it to proofread your work.

A coexistence is more than possible as long as the relationship is healthy and AI remains the tool, not the author.