An Italian newspaper claims to have created the world’s first entirely AI-generated edition, where journalists were limited to asking a chatbot questions and inserting its responses. Claudio Cerasa, editor of Il Foglio, stated that the experiment aimed to explore how AI could function in a newsroom and challenge journalists to consider what this technology means for the future of journalism.
“It will be the first daily newspaper in the world created entirely using artificial intelligence,” said Cerasa. “For everything. For the writing, the headlines, the quotes, the summaries. And, sometimes, even for the irony.”
The four-page section, named Il Fogolio AI, was included in the newspaper’s regular Tuesday edition and was also made available online.
AI in Journalism: Challenges and Risks
Previous attempts to integrate generative AI into newsrooms have been problematic. In 2023, CNET faced backlash when it quietly published AI-generated financial articles containing major inaccuracies. More recently, the Los Angeles Times launched an AI-powered tool called “Insights” to assess bias in opinion pieces, but it was quickly removed after failing to deliver reliable results.
Generative AI can produce text that appears polished and authoritative, but it struggles with reasoning and accuracy. It functions as an advanced autocomplete system and is prone to fabricating information. Some chatbots attempt to explain their logic, yet they often admit their limitations. This poses a significant challenge for news organizations, which must carefully verify AI-generated content to avoid damaging their credibility.
Despite these issues, many media outlets continue experimenting with AI. The Washington Post and Bloomberg use AI for article summaries, while Patch, a hyperlocal news site, relies entirely on AI to gather news from across the web.
The Future of AI-Generated News
AI’s ability tо generate new text іs based оn existing material, making іt unsuitable for investigative journalism оr original reporting. Finding exclusive stories and conducting interviews require human effort, as AI cannot create truly new information. However, іn an era where the public values media less and іs unwilling tо pay for content, cost-cutting measures make AI an attractive option for newsrooms.
Many journalists are concerned that AI will lead tо job cuts, and some unions have called for policies limiting its use. If AI-generated news becomes widespread, there іs a risk that articles will begin citing other AI-generated pieces, leading tо an endless loop оf recycled information with nо clear original source. In the most extreme scenario, news stories could eventually be composed entirely from social media discussions, blurring the line between journalism and online chatter.
