ChatGPT: a threat or an opportunity for journalists?

 ChatGPT: a threat or an opportunity for journalists?

The digital revolution, including the Internet, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has had a significant impact on many professions, including journalism. Currently, the industry is experiencing a change towards the automation of editorial tasks and modes of operation. While journalists cannot be replaced by machines, they must adapt to the technological evolution and embrace the newcomer of AI in their world, ChatGPT.

 

ChatGPT, in its new version (generation 4), offers a multitude of advantages and could be of significant added value to the world of journalism. According to MAP Abdessamad Moutei, deputy director of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC), this new technology offers a multitude of advantages and could be of significant added value to the world of journalism.

 

Professor Youssef Bentaleb, from the Ibn Tofail University of Kenitra, argues that ChatGPT, in its new version (generation 4), is capable of comparing different sources of information, leafing through thousands or even billions of web pages and documents all over the world, writing articles, and even transforming them into different forms of audio or video.

 

Salah Baïna, a teacher-researcher at the National School of Computer Science and Systems Analysis (ENSIAS-Rabat), notes that journalism is highly concerned by advances in AI and models languages such as ChatGPT. He believes that these technologies could potentially automate some journalistic tasks like writing news stories, generating summaries, and translating. However, he also emphasizes that human journalists cannot be completely replaced by machines. Journalists' deep understanding of the topics they cover, as well as their ability to critically assess and verify news sources, will enable them to remain competitive and preserve their skills.

 

While ChatGPT has numerous advantages, it also has certain disadvantages. The risk of plagiarism is enormous, and the veracity of the information is not guaranteed. Therefore, it is essential to use this technology with caution and ensure that the information produced is accurate and reliable.

 

Abdessamad Moutei, who is also the president of the Center for Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship, acknowledges that the uses of ChatGPT as a tool for journalism present potential risks. One of the drawbacks is its generalities, which could lead to the production of generic and unoriginal content.

 

Professor Bentaleb believes that while AI is an opportunity that can facilitate the work of journalists, it will also make certain professions related to journalism disappear. He sees it as an unbalanced competition and a real challenge and threat to the existence of the profession. It is essential for journalists to adapt to this technological evolution and find ways to integrate AI into their work while preserving their skills and expertise.

 

 

Professor Bentaleb suggests that journalists and other professionals must adapt to the newcomer of AI and accept the change in the rules of the game. However, Professor Baina, who is also a doctor in Computer Science and Automation from the University of Lorraine, notes that it is not certain that all journalists can adapt to technological developments while developing their skills and expertise to remain relevant and competitive in the job market.  Some journalists are unlikely to be able to keep up with technological advancements.

 

Experts in Artificial Intelligence agree that ChatGPT will upset the daily lives of future generations, particularly in terms of teaching, research, and the professional environment. The way in which this tool is integrated into the professions will determine its impact. It is essential to find ways to integrate AI into journalism while preserving the skills and expertise of human journalists.

 

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the company OpenAI, the publisher of conversational robots, found that the changes brought by artificial intelligence to the world of work are accelerating with the arrival of the powerful ChatGPT tool. The study concluded that at least half of the tasks of accountants, mathematicians, interpreters, and writers, and nearly 20% of the American workforce can be done much faster with AI technology.

 

The study also discovered that information processing jobs, such as public relations specialists, court reporters, and blockchain engineers, are highly vulnerable. As AI technology continues to advance, it is essential for professionals in these fields to adapt and find ways to integrate AI into their work while preserving their skills and expertise.