European Publishing Congress in Vienna discussing use of AI in media

Artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool for gathering and processing information in journalism, but reporters should remain responsible for writing news articles, former Der Spiegel editor-in-chief Stefan Aust said, Report's correspondent in Vienna informs.

Speaking at the European Publishing Congress in Vienna, where the development of AI and its use in journalism are among the key topics under discussion, Aust said the technology had already significantly simplified newsroom operations.

"Obtaining information with the help of artificial intelligence is fine. But journalists should write the articles themselves," Aust said.

He noted that large media organizations once employed archive departments with as many as 50 to 60 staff members, while AI is now capable of handling much of that work.

Aust warned, however, that journalists must independently verify information obtained through AI systems, as the technology relies on existing data that may contain inaccuracies.

"There are programs that can detect content created by artificial intelligence, but the main issue is that AI works with data that may already include errors," he said.

The former editor also addressed the use of AI in creating illustrations, saying the technology could serve as a supporting tool but that humans should retain the leading role in producing visual content.

On the future of print media, Aust said declining newspaper circulation was a global trend but rejected suggestions that printed publications would disappear entirely.

He noted that Der Spiegel was among the first media outlets to invest in digital publishing. While its content was initially offered free of charge, creating monetization challenges, the publication later developed a successful digital subscription model.

Representatives from media organizations, including Bild, BBC, Trendscout and ZEIT also took part in discussions at the congress.