Perplexity Dived Into Real-Time Election Tracking While Other AI Companies Held Back

WIRED - November 6, 2024

Perplexity, the controversial AI search engine, promises reliable live updates on the US presidential election through its Election Information Hub. Despite previous allegations of web-scraping and copyright breaches, the company is gaining credibility by providing accurate voting information sourced from reliable partners such as Democracy Works and the Associated Press and implementing tighter guardrails and clear citations.

Read more at WIRED (5 mins)

This is the First AI Election. Here's What That Means

Newsweek - November 5, 2024

The 2024 elections mark the first time AI tools have been widely available to the public, influencing voters' access to election information and spreading misinformation. With AI generating misleading content and chatbots offering inaccurate answers to voters' questions, there's a growing concern about the impact these tools could have on the democratic process, highlighting the need for increased digital literacy, responsible use by tech companies, and effective regulation. 

Read more at Newsweek (6 mins)

Driven bot network tried to help Trump win US election – DW – 11/05/2024

Dw.com - November 5, 2024

According to researcher Elise Thomas, AI bots boosting support for Donald Trump have been discovered on social media platform X. She found dozens of verified accounts generating automated posts; the accounts have since been suspended, showing the increasing challenge of detecting and combating disinformation in the age of AI. 

Read more at Dw.com (4 mins)

AI startup Aaru defends using artificial intelligence for polling

Semafor - November 6, 2024

Despite incorrect predictions in its AI model for the 2024 US Presidential Election, startup Aaru remains adamant that AI polling is more efficient and accurate than traditional methods. The company, created by two college dropouts and a 15-year-old, believes that even though their AI predicted Kamala Harris' win incorrectly, the technology still has potential for improvement and cost-saving benefits.

Read more at Semafor (2 mins)

Musk’s X sees ‘record usage’ during US election yet study claims he boosted the algorithm

Euronews - November 6, 2024

Elon Musk's prominent support for Donald Trump and alleged manipulation of social media algorithms have led to considerable engagement on his posts, even those promoting false election claims. Musk's actions challenge the notion of neutrality in social media platforms, raising concerns about the influence of owners in shaping public discourse. 

Read more at Euronews (3 mins)

How AI shaped the 2024 election: From ad strategy to voter sentiment analysis

Digiday - November 5, 2024

Generative AI is being used for the first time in U.S. politics for the 2024 election campaigns. Platforms like Battleground AI are assisting smaller campaigns to create scalable, text-based ads for various platforms, with clients quadrupling since the platform's expansion beyond beta. Additionally, machine learning is being used to analyze ads and voter sentiment, helping campaigns refine their messaging based on real-time voter sentiment.

Read more at Digiday (6 mins)

What Trump’s election win could mean for AI, climate and health

Nature - November 8, 2024

Donald Trump's second term as US president could see significant changes to the country's science policies, including repealing guidelines for safe AI development and the potential reversal of climate efforts. From AI to climate change, health, and foreign science partnerships, experts discuss possible scientific impacts under Trump's administration, highlighting concerns around AI safety, the Paris Agreement, vaccine confidence, global health funding, and international scientific collaboration. 

Read more at Nature (8 mins)

Discuss how AI is impacting media (and the election too)

Technical.ly - November 9, 2024

The Klein News Innovation Camp, an "unconference" about media-making, journalism, and the future of news, is set to return on November 16. The event, which is known for its accessible and community-driven approach, will feature a keynote from renowned technology journalist, Steven Levy, as well as sessions led by various media professionals on topics ranging from artificial intelligence in reporting to revenue streams for independent media organisations. 

Read more at Technical.ly (2 mins)

AI and the media: a (r)evolution in investigative reporting?

Polytechnique Insights - November 6, 2024

AI is revolutionizing the media sector, with tools like Statcheck and ConnectionLens helping journalists sift through and cross-reference large amounts of data. Yet, despite AI's increasing integration in newsrooms, experts argue that these systems are still tools, not replacements, as many journalistic skills remain uniquely human, stressing the importance of human oversight in verifying information.

Read more at Polytechnique Insights (6 mins)

What audiences really want: For journalists to connect with them as people

Nieman Lab 

A new study reveals a significant difference between what journalists and the public consider "good journalism". While journalists value objectivity, independence, accuracy, and public interest, audiences prefer approachability, empathy, and clear, resonant communication. The researchers suggest these sets of values should be considered complementary and essential to professional journalism. 

Read more at Nieman Lab (14 mins)

CCOs Reveal Best Practices for AI, Social Media and Other Digital PR

PRNEWS - November 4, 2024

At the Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit, leading figures in the communications industry discussed the evolving role of digital in connecting with audiences. Key topics included the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for news delivery, the importance of building a specialized digital team, and the innovative use of AI in campaigns and messaging.

Read more at PRNEWS (6 mins)

The Houston Defender’s AI transformation: Cost-effective solutions for quality journalism

Editorandpublisher - 

Discover the rich history of Houston through the lens of the Houston Defender, an African American newspaper that has been a pillar of the community since 1930.

Read more at Editorandpublisher (1 min)

Jumping on the AI train: An actionable guide for news publishers

Editor and Publisher - November 7, 2024

This article discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for local media publishers, including its challenges and strengths. The author emphasizes that while AI can be a powerful tool for automating tasks and providing new capabilities, it is crucial for businesses to understand its workings, integrate it effectively into their workflow, and have a strategic plan to navigate the rapid changes in AI technology. 

Read more at Editor and Publisher (8 mins)

Polish Radio Station's AI Gambit Doesn't Go Well

Newser - November 4, 2024

Radio Krakow's controversial decision to replace its journalists with AI avatars sparked a swift backlash, leading to an early termination of the experiment. The Polish station's AI strategy, which involved using AI avatars to conduct interviews - including one with the late Nobel Prize winner Wislawa Szymborska - was criticized for crossing ethical boundaries, prompting the station chief to end the project due to the intense negative response. 

Read more at Newser (3 mins)

The 2024 PW Publishing Industry Salary & Jobs Report

PublishersWeekly.com - 

The publishing industry has seen a significant shift in its racial and gender makeup over the past decade, with new entrants being more diverse and less white. However, these newcomers are also more sceptical about the industry's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Additionally, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in publishing has been met with concern, with only 25% of respondents believing it will positively impact their jobs and 56% fearing it will negatively affect the industry.

Read more at PublishersWeekly.com (6 mins)

AI-generated images threaten science — here’s how researchers hope to spot them

Nature - November 5, 2024

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in scientific research is causing concerns about the integrity of scientific literature as it becomes increasingly difficult to identify fake data and images. To combat this, integrity specialists and tech companies are racing to develop AI tools capable of detecting fraudulent, AI-generated content, while some publishers and research institutions are already using AI to scan for image integrity issues.

Read more at Nature (8 mins)

Why AI is a force for good in science communication – Physics World

Physics World - November 5, 2024

Australian science magazine Cosmos experienced backlash after using generative AI to write articles, sparking debate about the role of AI in science journalism. Despite concerns over misinformation and the devaluation of human journalism, proponents argue that AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance science communication by providing accessible educational resources and aiding those with communication difficulties. They stress the importance of fact-checking and transparency in AI use.

Read more at Physics World (11 mins)

Owned publisher's 'disastrous decision' to translate books using AI

The Bookseller - 

The decision by Simon & Schuster-owned publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK) to use artificial intelligence (AI) for translating some titles into English has sparked concerns among translators. Critics argue that AI translations can lead to reputational damage, inefficiency, and increased costs due to extensive post-editing, and may also negatively impact the quality of the books.

Read more at The Bookseller (3 mins)

Dutch publisher to use AI to translate ‘limited number of books’ into English

The Guardian - November 4, 2024

The largest publisher in the Netherlands, Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK), plans to experiment with artificial intelligence to translate a small selection of commercial fiction books into English. While this move has raised concerns among translators about the potential loss of creative elements and the risk of incorrect translations, VBK maintains that human involvement remains crucial and authors have been asked for their permission. 

Read more at The Guardian (2 mins)

How I Read a Classic Novel With AI to Guide Me

CNET - November 5, 2024

Rebind, a recently launched AI-native publishing company, aims to enhance the e-reader experience by integrating AI-powered discussions and expert-led commentary into classic reads. The platform offers a unique reading process which includes selecting a book from its library, engaging in AI-powered chats about the book, and viewing video content from a curated group of writers, philosophers, and commentators who guide the reading experience with prerecorded video commentary woven into each chapter. 

Read more at CNET (5 mins)