It’s no secret that society has witnessed a huge uptick in the utilization of Artificial Intelligence. In this day and age, technology is integrated into nearly every aspect of life, including art, music, and schoolwork. Most of us have interacted with it in some way, shape, or form. ChatGPT, one of the leading AI programs as of late, is nothing short of incredibly compelling.
Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence model designed to understand and generate human-like text. It’s capable of answering questions, engaging in conversation, offering explanations on various topics, and even assisting with creative writing. Whether used by students, professionals, or enthusiasts, ChatGPT is transforming the way people interact with and leverage technology, providing an innovative tool that bridges the gap between human understanding and machine capability.
The programming team behind the software, OpenAI, has done an excellent job developing something that has become so popular so quickly. I’ve spoken with people who have interacted with it and use it frequently. Because of its efficiency, I find myself including it in my workflow almost daily. Recognizing this impact, NYU’s Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts has decided to create a course dedicated to learning more about how ChatGPT has played a major role in continuing to morph the journalism industry for the foreseeable future. We asked Professor John Biggs, who will be the instructor for the course this Fall, some questions in relation to AI in general and how this will be covered. More insight below.
Q: How does using AI Tools like ChatGPT in Journalism fit into the modern media landscape?
JB: I always point to the Centaur model of AI. The human part of the Centaur is carried by the strong – but fairly dumb – horse’s legs below it. In the case of AI, journalists must embrace the Centaur model or be lost. There will be no content creation or journalism without AI in the future and the more we augment our skills the less likely we’ll be left behind.
Q: Based on the recent uprising of AI use, how can this revolutionize journalistic practices?
JB: I write about ten to fifteen blog posts a day using AI. It ingests press releases and even reporting notes and lets me 10X my efforts. We’ve long seen AI-generated text as weird, goofy, or even spooky. Now it’s just another tool in our toolbox.
Q: What are some ethical considerations journalists must be aware of when utilizing AI in their work? How does this course address those concerns?
JB: Just as cloud computing is just other people’s computers, AI is other people’s brains. We need to be very careful when we use AI to edit and control for plagiarism and even idea theft. That said, given most journalism these days is either event reporting or (gasp) aggregation, using these tools can help build organizations that don’t have to spend cash on piddling news stories and can instead focus on real reporting.
Q: Who would benefit the most from taking this course? Is it geared more towards experienced journalists or newcomers to the field?
JB: I want everyone to take this course. Journalists are afraid of new tools. I want to make them comfortable with AI. A friend of mine called using AI “building his own guillotine.” That’s accurate as long as journalists hide from the truth: AI is here, AI works, and their publishers are champing at the bit to use it. Head them off at the pass!
Q: How does this course equip journalists to adapt to the rapidly changing world of media and technology?
JB: I’ve been trying to add tech to reporting for most of my career. My goal is to share what I learn and where I failed. I also want us to work together to build a more tech-savvy group of journalists in the future.
Q: Can you expand on the ways this course explores data analysis and summarizing documents through AI? How might these skills be applied in daily journalistic work?
JB: There are a number of tips and tricks journalists can use to do anything from turning simple notes into a real story to summarizing important points in a piece. One of the coolest things? ChatGPT can give you code to process data that you can then use in your reporting. It’s an amazing tool.
Q: Does the course balance the technical aspects of AI with the creative aspects of journalism? How are students encouraged to harness both in their work?
JB: Journalism is an art. Painters don’t need to know how cadmium blue or burnt umber is made to use it. Somewhere, in the wilds of New Jersey, I’m sure there’s a massive plant producing these pigments. But artists benefit from technology all the time and those that ignore it are doomed. I want to show journalists how to use these tools to further journalism and keep it alive.
Q: With AI continually evolving, how will this course stay relevant and up-to-date with the latest tools and practices in the field?
JB: Oddly, AI is currently stagnant. The massive boom of ChatGPT took everyone by surprise but except for step-changes in the technology, don’t expect your computer to write a moving ballad or discover the meaning of life any time soon. Basically we’re living in a world where AI is strong and popular because compute power got cheaper. That’s something to celebrate.
Q: Do you think ChatGPT could become a standard tool in the workflow of journalists in the future?
JB: Absolutely. Anyone who is arguing the opposite is lying. It’s as important – if not more important – than the rise of the web.
Q: What message would you like to send to potential students considering this course, and how do you envision it shaping the future of journalism?
JB: Let’s create this weird new world together. Don’t be afraid. Let out your inner Centaur!
Don’t miss out on your chance to take the ChatGPT Journalism course this Fall!
In addition, please take a look at the Certificate in Journalism offered here at the NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts.
For any inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email at sps.pala.ce@nyu.edu, or call us at 212-998-7289.