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- MediaMorph Edition 46 - by HANA News
MediaMorph Edition 46 - by HANA News
Perplexity is crushing it - will publishers ever learn?
MediaMorph Edition 46 - by HANA News
Perplexity is crushing it - will publishers ever learn?
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The written-by-a-human bit
Like many of you, I watched Trump’s Rose Garden tariff announcements live, and something smelt off. I needed a refresher on the Great Depression and tariff policies, so I asked Perplexity, “What were the main causes of the Great Depression in the US?”. I was offered a follow-up question, “How did the stock market crash of 1929 contribute to the Great Depression?” and then landed on “What role did international trade disruptions play in the Great Depression?”. Within minutes, I had a 12th-grade understanding of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.

Historically, I would have embarked on a Google search and no doubt ended up on Wikipedia, but now I had multiple sources to reference.
Perplexity is crushing it because they are product people. They have built something of beauty - intuitive, fast, and a joy to use. By showing how to do it, they are doing news publishers a massive favour.
In the 2000s, publishers were asleep at the wheel while dot-com start-ups “stole” their classifieds—notably jobs and real estate—leading to expensive acquisitions to buy them back in the 2010s.
Again, they seem to be sleepwalking while AI startups execute land grabs on the information economy.
Why the reticence? I would have gladly asked the FT, WSJ, or The Economist what caused the Great Depression and would have enjoyed a tailored answer with their own brand integrity, source material, and editorial perspective.
With remarkable prescience and timing, “Open Deep Search arrives to challenge Perplexity and ChatGPT Search,” as reported by Venture Beat - researchers at Sentience Labs have released an open-source framework that competes with and matches Perplexity on sentient search and dropped the code for everyone on Github.
“For enterprises seeking powerful AI reasoning capabilities grounded in real-time information, ODS presents a promising solution that offers a transparent, customizable and high-performing alternative to proprietary AI search systems.”
This is an open goal for news publishers to reclaim the space - will they take it?
Mark Riley, CEO, Mathison AI
PS At Mathison, we have built our own B2B version of sentient search called “George” for market research and sector analysis. It also talks to your internal drives—book a demo.
PPS We built this for fun https://www.shelfimage.co.uk/ - take a photo of your bookshelf or Kindle library for personality insights and further book recommendations
Hi
AI will be a substantial competitive advantage for those who master it. But most are still struggling with adoption because rolling out a chatbot or copilot isn’t enough to get people using it.
At Mathison AI, we are helping CEOs like you rapidly discover and prototype high-impact AI use cases tailored to your business.
We’re currently working with global and local enterprises to identify areas where AI can drive real operational value — from automation and cost savings to entirely new product ideas.
If you’re exploring AI and want a clear, low-risk way to get started, I’d love to share how we approach it through fast education sessions and hands-on prototyping.
AI and Media and Journalism
How AI is steering the media toward a ‘close enough’ standard Generative technology enables rapid content creation across various media, but its efficiency is undermined by the risk of "AI hallucinations," where false or misleading information is generated. This challenge necessitates careful oversight and validation to ensure the integrity and reliability of AI-generated content in media production. |
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Media Between Empowerment and Bias This overview explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in journalism, highlighting its potential to enhance news reporting and content personalization while also addressing significant challenges such as bias, data privacy, and the diminishing human element in storytelling. As AI continues to evolve within the media landscape, the need for ethical standards and human oversight remains crucial to preserving the integrity of journalism. |
State of the Media: A Public Discussion Forum Join the Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications on April 23, 2025, for a pivotal "State of the Media" forum in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center, featuring industry leaders discussing trust in media and the influence of AI on news. This event will provide valuable insights from notable panelists, including Rashida Jones and Maurice Jones, as they explore the future of American journalism. |
AI in journalism: The good, the bad, the ugly Euractiv - AI is revolutionizing journalism by automating tasks, enhancing data analysis, and personalizing content delivery. However, it is also raising ethical concerns about misinformation and job displacement. As AI's role in the industry grows, finding a balance between innovation and journalistic integrity becomes essential. |
Five free AI-powered transcription tools for journalists Journalism - April 4, 2025 Discover the latest audio-to-text transcription tools that can simplify your workflow, including free options like Riverside and Good Tape, as well as advanced features from Google Cloud and Otter.ai. Stay informed about technological advancements in transcription by subscribing to our daily newsletter! |
Jordan Center Symposium Addresses Tech Influence on Democracy Olemiss - The Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation hosted its inaugural event, "Addressing the Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Democracy," featuring 14 experts discussing critical issues like censorship, media literacy, and AI regulation. Highlighting the need for collaboration to uphold journalistic integrity, speakers emphasized finding common ground in an era of rising misinformation. |
5 ways science journalists can leverage AI in their work International Journalists' Network - AI is transforming science journalism by streamlining complex tasks such as simplifying intricate concepts and enhancing audience engagement, while also offering support for neurodivergent journalists. As the industry adapts to these advancements, responsible use of AI tools like ChatGPT can promote clarity and efficiency without compromising ethical standards. |
Is AI worsening the mental health crisis in journalism? Voxeurop - April 2, 2025 A recent study by IrpiMedia reveals alarming mental health challenges among Italian journalists, with 87% reporting high stress levels and over 40% experiencing burnout. As the industry grapples with low salaries and the integration of AI, experts emphasize the urgent need for support systems to safeguard journalists' well-being and independence. |
Does Your AI Listen Better Than Humans in Customer Service (and Journalism)? CMSWire.com - April 1, 2025 Generative AI is transforming customer service by matching human agents in satisfaction levels and taking on complex tasks like research and calls, raising concerns about job displacement across industries. As this technology evolves, it challenges traditional roles in journalism, sales, and support, prompting a debate on the future of work and our ability to adapt to these rapid changes. |
Disinformation in focus: Pulitzer winner talks AI's impact on journalism Disinformation in focus: Pulitzer winner talks AI's impact on journalism - University of Richmond's Student Newspaper - April 2, 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist David Carson addressed the impact of AI on journalism at the University of Richmond, warning that AI-generated content can distort reality and undermine public trust. He highlighted the urgent need for critical engagement with such technology, especially as it threatens journalistic integrity and amplifies misinformation. |
Creating and sharing deceptive AI-generated media is now a crime in New Jersey The Press Democrat - April 3, 2025 New Jersey has passed a new law making the creation and sharing of deceptive deepfake media a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, while also allowing victims to file lawsuits against offenders. Inspired by the case of Francesca Mani, who was targeted by a deepfake video, this legislation joins at least 20 other states aiming to combat AI-generated misinformation, particularly in election contexts. |
News Media Publishers Run Coordinated Ad Campaign Urging Washington to Protect Content From Big Tech and AI News/Media Alliance - April 7, 2025 Hundreds of news publishers have launched the "Support Responsible AI" ad campaign, urging Washington to ensure that Big Tech compensates content creators for their work used in AI products. The initiative calls for fair compensation, transparency in AI-generated content, and measures to combat monopolistic practices, all aimed at protecting the creative industry and maintaining reliable access to quality information. |
Can AI have a soul? The ethical debate over artificial creativity The Famuan - April 6, 2025 As AI transforms the creative industries by generating content, it raises crucial questions about the essence of creativity and the potential devaluation of human artistry. To preserve the emotional depth and authenticity of artistic expression, society must establish boundaries that prioritize human ingenuity while navigating the ethical challenges posed by AI-generated works. |
AI and Academic Publishing
The forgotten stakeholder – the reader Research Information - April 7, 2025 In a thought-provoking argument, Ashutosh Ghildiyal advocates for a shift in scholarly publishing toward prioritizing readers' interests over authors'. He aims to enhance research quality and integrity while addressing the challenges of low-quality outputs and overwhelming publication volumes. He emphasizes the need for innovative, reader-centric models that leverage AI and community engagement to ensure that meaningful research effectively advances human knowledge. |
How innovative new practices are helping transform scholarly publishing Open Access Government - April 4, 2025 Kathleen Shearer, Executive Director of COAR, highlights the transformative impact of preprint sharing and innovative practices in scholarly publishing, addressing delays in accessing taxpayer-funded research and enhancing transparency. The COAR Notify Project aims to create interoperability between preprint repositories and peer review services, fostering a more efficient and accessible research landscape that promotes global collaboration and innovation. |
Identification of dental-related ChatGPT-generated abstracts by senior and young academicians versus artificial intelligence detectors and a similarity detector Nature - April 2, 2025 A recent study examines the ability of academicians to distinguish between human-written and AI-generated abstracts, revealing that while experienced faculty performed better, even they struggled against the sophisticated mimicry of AI like ChatGPT. The research underscores the importance of employing reliable AI detection tools alongside human judgment to maintain academic integrity amidst growing concerns over misinformation in scholarly writing. |
Are AI Models Advanced Enough To Translate Literature? The Debate Is Roiling Publishing – The Markup Themarkup - April 2, 2025 Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning is exploring AI for book translations, igniting debate among translators about the future of their profession. While some see potential for enhanced accessibility and efficiency, critics warn that reliance on automated tools risks undermining the artistry and nuances essential to literary translation. |
Threats to research integrity ‘a global, systemic problem’ Research Professional News - April 7, 2025 At the RPN Live event, speakers addressed significant integrity challenges in research, highlighting pressures to publish and the emergence of "paper mills" producing fake manuscripts. Emphasizing the need for collective action, they warned that AI tools complicate the landscape, while calls for greater diversity in thought within academia were made to counteract ideological homogeneity. |
News for emerging authors: March In this month's column, we reflect on the passing of beloved author Alex Wheatle and the launch of a mentoring program by the Booksellers Association, while addressing the urgent issue of big tech's use of pirated books for AI training. As authors face new challenges in protecting their work, it's crucial to advocate for accountability and ethical practices within the publishing industry. |
Meta AI book scraping: 'We need to speak up', say authors Authors are protesting against Meta for allegedly using their works without permission to train its generative AI system, Llama, raising concerns about copyright infringement and the future of creative jobs. As calls for government intervention grow, writers like Jack Strange and Abie Longstaff advocate for fair compensation and recognition for creators whose intellectual property is utilized by AI technologies. |
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