Journalism and artificial intelligence

The role of journalism in maintaining a functioning democracy is widely recognised. Therefore, technological developments that may threaten its independence and quality are a matter of concern. Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, which can create texts and images automatically, is one such development. However, the use of artificial intelligence extends beyond generative AI and includes activities such as collecting, analysing, and disseminating information, including news on social media.

Professor Colin Porlezza from the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society has been studying so-called "automated journalism" for a long time and has attended several conferences on the subject in recent weeks. On 6 October, he took part in the Journalismus Jetzt event organised by the Young Journalists' Association in Zurich, and a few days later, on 16 October, in a panel discussion at the Presseclub Concordia in Vienna (recording of the event available on YouTube). On 8 November, he took part in a meeting organised in Berne by the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences, while on Saturday, 11 November, he discussed the regulation and responsible use of artificial intelligence in journalism at the Glocal event in Varese alongside the President of the Order of Journalists Carlo Bartoli, the Vice-President of the Italian Data Protection Authority Ginevra Cerrina Feroni, the Commissioner of the Communication Authority Elisa Giomi and the editor of ilfattoquotidiano.it Peter Gomez.

On Wednesday, 15 November, at 6:30 pm, Colin Porlezza will also be among the guests at the encounter “Quando la scrittura è ideata da una macchina” (writing conceived by a machine) organised at the West Campus Lugano by the Association Fare arte NEL nostro tempo in collaboration with USI.