New York Times embraces AI tools, but with strict boundaries

The New York Times has officially embraced the use of AI tools within its editorial and product operations. Semafor reports the company has unveiled to staff a suite of AI tools designed to enhance various aspects of content creation and product development.

AI tools at the Times: Central to the NYT's initiative is "Echo," an in-house AI tool developed to assist journalists in summarizing articles, briefings, and interactive content. Echo aims to streamline the editorial process by providing concise summaries, thereby allowing reporters and editors to focus more on in-depth analysis and storytelling.

Additionally, the NYT has approved the use of several external AI programs, including GitHub Copilot for coding assistance, Google's Vertex AI for product development, and OpenAI's non-ChatGPT API, among others.

Boundary-setting guidelines: The NYT hasn't elaborated publicly on its embrace of AI tools, other than to point out that last year it adopted a raft of principles for using Generative AI in its newsroom. The guidelines emphasize that while AI can assist in tasks such as generating SEO headlines, drafting summaries, and suggesting edits, the ultimate responsibility and accountability rest with human journalists.

"Generative AI can assist our journalists in uncovering the truth and helping more people understand the world," according to the guidelines. "We view the technology not as some magical solution but as a powerful tool that... may be used in service of our mission."

What's not permitted: The guidelines explicitly prohibit the use of AI to draft or significantly alter articles, circumvent paywalls, input third-party copyrighted materials, or publish AI-generated images or videos without clear labeling. This cautious approach ensures that AI serves as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for human insight and editorial judgment.

In related news: The NYT is embroiled in ongoing legal disputes with AI firms including OpenAI and Microsoft. The newspaper has filed lawsuits alleging unauthorized use of its content to train AI models like ChatGPT, highlighting the complex intersection of AI innovation and intellectual property rights.