Google’s AI Tool “Genesis” Designed To Write Articles

Google is reportedly developing a new artificial intelligence model named  “Genesis” designed to write news articles and create headlines. The company showcased this new tool to executives from prominent media organizations such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and News Corp, aiming to demonstrate its potential benefits. However, some executives found the AI model “unsettling.”

The purpose of Genesis is to act as a personal assistant to journalists capable of processing information, analyzing current events as well as generating content. Google emphasizes that Genesis is not meant to replace human editors and digital journalists currently employed. Instead, it aims to provide assistive tools to enhance journalists’ work and productivity.

Jenn Crider, a Google spokesman stated, “ Our goal is to give journalists the choice of using these emerging technologies in a way that enhances their work and productivity, just like we’re making assistive tools available for people in Gmail and in Google Docs.”

She added, “ Quite simply these tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the essential role journalists have in reporting, creating, and fact-checking their articles.”

Despite Google’s claims, Journalists remain skeptical. Some executives expressed their concerns that the program is taking the work journalists put into writing news stories for granted. Moreover, from previous encounters with other AI chatbots for instance, Open AI, ChatGPT, and Google Bard, one ought to have a keen eye as AI-generated news could be prone to fabrication and spread false information if not carefully edited and fact-checked.

Google in its defense said the Genesis program is “responsible” and could avoid some of the mistakes made by previous generative AI programs. Some media outlets, like BuzzFeed and CNET, have already begun using AI in their coverage and see potential in Genesis.  

However, there are concerns about the fate of Google’s past innovation projects, with several failings over the years, the likes of the Wikipedia alternatives “knol and sidewiki which faced challenges and eventually crumbled. This history raises concerns about the long-term existence and the success of the project to anyone considering using the AI tool.