Artificial intelligence [AI] is about making computers smart enough to do things that would usually require a human. Additionally, artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our everyday lives at a fast rate. It influences everything from the way news is written to how videos and images are created online. News organizations, content creators and everyday media users are all being affected by this growth in AI. The rise in AI has increased mainly over the last decade taking up over 80% of companies, spreading out more to those who use the media often.
Moreover, one of the biggest reasons people use AI is because of its speed and accessibility. Many sources such as The Associated Press have used AI to generate simple news stories like sports or summaries. They believed this allowed their journalist to focus more on complex things. AI powered tools are often used to identify manipulated or false information and images online which help improve media literacy for many people who struggle to see the real content from the fake.
However, these benefits can either come with or be the cause of major downsides. AI generated deepfakes[realistic fake videos/images/audio] spread misinformation easily and can reach millions of people before it’s debunked. MIT Technology Review has reported that, “AI made political videos have already caused confusions in elections in the real world.” In particular, Donald J. Trump, president of the United States often uses AI in his campaigns that can be harmful to different societal groups. Students at Tuscarora High School were asked whether or not they believe that AI is good for the media. “I think it’s bad because it makes everything feel less real. It can spread fake information fast, and replace real creators with cheap alternatives,” said Leah Doe, a senior at THS. “The more we rely on AI, the worse our common sense becomes,” stated a Junior at THS.
Another concern is that AI will eventually be able to take over human jobs in the media. Automated writing tools and AI editing software’s can simply do tasks that would have normally been done by a team of people. AI also doesn’t just affect employment, it can also harm the quality of news. AI generated images or false articles can really ruin a person’s reputation, spread panic or manipulate public opinion. In 2024, AI generated sexually explicit deepfake images of Taylor Swift widely circulated around social media platforms. Although the images were entirely false, they spread quickly due to Taylor’s status and took months to debunk. When less humans are involved, it’s easier for more mistakes to slip through cracks which can be catastrophic. Jack Mallon, a YouTube spokesperson states, “viewers increasingly want more transparency about whether the content they’re seeing is altered or synthetic.”
Overall, AI can be a powerful tool if regulated and used correctly. However, that isn’t the case in most scenarios. I believe that AI should be heavily regulated or taken more seriously when the topic of its effects on the people arises. Ultimately, I think AI should be nowhere near news, journalism or any job that relies on factual information towards the public. AI can truly be extremely beneficial to us as people, only if the users stay educated, cautious and double check their sources.
