At Media Party Chicago 2023, Jeremy Gilbert of Northwestern University‘s Knight Lab argued that newsrooms are misframing AI by using it to replicate legacy tasks rather than design better user experiences. He urged the industry to move past rigid formats like the inverted pyramid and embrace a one-to-one model that adapts stories to an individual’s specific background, available time, and comprehension level.
To illustrate this shift, the Knight Lab is experimenting with AI tools that address direct audience questions, adjust article complexity, and provide updates based on a reader’s prior knowledge. These prototypes demonstrate how automation can deliver smart context that legacy publishing formats simply cannot achieve at scale.
Warning that newsrooms risk losing ground to tech startups if they fail to address these needs, Gilbert stressed that AI should not replace human journalists. Instead, organizations must harness technology to build personalized information experiences, comparing this evolution to the historical transition from carriage drivers to chauffeurs.
Don’t miss the full presentation! Watch Jeremy Gilbert’s Keynote at Media Party Chicago 2023.
