The Inbox....

On Monday, FTVLive told you how Scripps is starting to use AI to help write and produce stories. We pointed to a story from Scripps-owned WKBW in Buffalo.

FTVLive has been talking about AI for quite sometime and we do believe that AI is a big part of the future of Journalism. We have encouraged people to work with AI, learn it, or get left behind.

A few people weighed in and we wanted to share their thoughts in The Inbox:

Email:

Hi Scott, 

Thanks for posting the WKBW AI story.   It is one more sign how fast things are changing in our industry, and will continue to change at an increasing pace. 

It is interesting to note that as recently as a few years ago, Scripps fired an employee I know of for using AI to help write a script. 

The WKBW story also shows how much work still needs to be done.  The use of the word "I" in the fourth paragraph makes sense in broadcast copy, but obviously not in print.  Plus it raises the philosophical question, does the "I" refer to the reporter or the AI?  (Just asking for a friend....)

Email:

I applaud the use of AI supported tools to report.  "AI" by itself is not a thing. AI technology is now being built into all kinds of tools to execute tasks. We are at a point where you may use a writing tool, an photo editor, or excel program that works with the help of AI technology. Remember the days when we bought TV's that were "HD" ready? Now, since High Def is a standard, the designation is no longer used.  That said, in the not to distant future AI technology will be built into just about every digital tool we use. There are people out there who slam use of "AI" in anything. I've had people say to me "I hate AI!", "I refuse to use AI" Well, is sooner or later they'll be using something in their lives and AI will be helping them make the task easier and they'll never realize it.