New Hampshire Newsrooms Navigate The Promise And Pitfalls Of AI Integration

As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly prevalent, New Hampshire newsrooms are exploring ways to harness their potential while exercising caution and establishing clear boundaries. The integration of AI in journalism has sparked a nuanced discussion about the balance between efficiency and ethics.

In an era where time is of the essence, many journalists have begun to utilize AI tools, such as Otter, to transcribe interviews, thereby saving a significant amount of time. Some outlets have leveraged AI to monitor public meetings remotely, enabling them to identify potential story ideas and sources. However, this increased reliance on AI has also raised concerns about the importance of human oversight.

The recent incident involving a freelancer who used generative AI to create a summer reading list, complete with non-existent books, serves as a stark reminder of the need for fact-checking and human verification. Jonathan Van Fleet, editor of the Concord Monitor, emphasizes that “if you use AI, you have to have a human in the loop.” This sentiment is echoed by Julie Hirshan Hart, editor of the Laconia Daily Sun, who stresses that AI should not replace a journalist’s news judgment, experience, or unique voice.

At present, the Laconia Daily Sun does not have formal policies in place regarding AI usage, but the topic is an ongoing subject of discussion.