Why publishers are way off reaching peak generative AI
And we have an exclusive annual ranking of the UK's top sites for technology news
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Tuesday 12 September, brought to you today in association with Impress, the “UK’s independent self-regulator of the press with the only Standards Code for journalists that addresses the use of AI when generating content”. In the latest edition of their monthly newsletter Impress Insights, they look at the biggest danger AI poses to newsrooms and why a serious hoax is inevitable. Sign up to learn more.
Research agency Gartner recently suggested we have already hit peak generative AI, with the market set to dive headfirst into a "trough of disillusionment".
But while ChatGPT is probably not as clever as we first thought (or feared), having already become a synonym for sloppy and formulaic-sounding prose, news publishers still see plenty of mileage in the technology.
In our latest analysis from the Press Gazette Future of Media Technology conference we hear about some practical uses of generative AI at ITN, Future, Bauer, AP and elsewhere.
Our industry seems to be still only scratching the surface in terms of productivity gains to be had from deploying intelligent digital assistants.
Today we also bring you our annual ranking of the UK's most popular technology websites. The many steep year-on-year falls suggest that, like those generative AI start-ups, there may now be too many sites chasing too little business.
Traffic for the leading B2B sites, however, appears to be booming - at least according to figures from Ipsos iris (based on a combination of survey and server data).
Figures for website traffic are, however, always only an estimate. And when you burrow down into the niches, the reliability of that estimate diminishes. So any feedback on these latest numbers is very welcome.
Promoted report:
Can we trust generative AI when it comes to the news? Do journalists need training to tackle the magnitude of the technology? And is a serious AI hoax an inevitability? All of these questions are answered in the latest Impress Insights newsletter, bringing you analysis and opinion from those who know best in the world of journalism and media. No topics are off the table. From political policies and freedom of speech to how best to market your news brand and the need for reliable, low-cost dispute resolution. Sign up today and receive our latest issue on generative AI in newsrooms!
Should you find yourself being questioned for the use of AI, or are simply looking for some practical advice, reach out to us for a free consultation.
New from Press Gazette:
Editorial ‘co-pilots’ and monetising archives: Generative AI in action at ITN, Future, Bauer, AP and others
Including testing paywall copy, training chatbots on one expert site and translating news.
Ranked: Most popular technology news websites in UK in 2023
ZD Net is the top B2B title, while Future-owned publications dominate the consumer sector.
Memoir sheds light on lost golden age of local news and democratic accountability
Journalist Nigel Heath, aged 76, did not realise he would also be shining a light on a golden age of journalism that has quietly faded away into the past, its disappearance almost unnoticed by the general public, who are the poorer for its loss.
News in brief:
The Times remains the only major newsbrand to have named the Parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China, though Guido Fawkes has followed. The man has been arrested but not charged, so potential legal risks include libel, contempt of court and a new stricter privacy precedent. MPs were told not to name the alleged spy using Parliamentary privilege so they don't jeopardise any future prosecution. But Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: "It is vitally important that he is named... There is a clear public interest.”Press regulator Impress has written to all the major political parties asking them to review their candidates' use of campaign leaflets in the style of local newspapers, "and the negative impact... on politics, journalism, and democracy". (Impress)Newsnight may face cuts to take its annual costs down from £8m to around £3m with a potential move to a discussion-led programme, insiders have reportedly mooted. One told The Times "it is enormously expensive and not enough people are watching it". (The Times)Previously on Press Gazette:
Reach reader revenue trials: Premium apps, paid-for newsletters and ad-free Express
FT offers lessons for news publishers on how to reach more women
Government-led task force launched to protect journalism from SLAPPs
Ten major trends in news consumption publishers need to be thinking about
Audience growth: What publishers can learn from Tiktok and why social still matters
Ex-Sun editor David Yelland on PR: Lying is ‘far less common than you’d think’
