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Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

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Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#41

Post by mc32 »

chrischen wrote: post #36
nkozyra wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presentation of facts alone doesn't really preclude bias, though. Certainly all journalists carry bias - and styleguides and journalistic standards are intended to mitigate this - but any software intended to encapsulate some facts into some allotted space will also carry bias. Source/quote selection and omission will always lend some bias and news by nature has a finite space. Print news in particular imposes bias t…

Also choosing what to report or what not to report—even as consumers choosing what news to read—introduces bias into the system.

I would think that an automated system would have less ad-hoc bias.

It would report on whatever triggers newsworthiness[1] rather than whatever gains the attention of a reporter (which would have fewer if any stated minimums or maximum requirements).

Concretely speaking it's the difference between human-curated search engines and automated search engines like Google.

[1] Since such a system would require thought and design, there would be less impulsive influence.

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#42

Post by kronos29296 »

untog wrote: post #33
kronos29296 wrote: post #15

What guarantee is there that the published news isn't fake? This might start something like viral fake facebook posts. We already have enough of those. Now we have automated fake news generator where you post your own fake news for free. This is what it will become one day. Hope they have something to stop it.

I don't really see what this has to do with fake news. Traditionally produced news stories can be fake, and algorithmically generated stories can be fake (when fed bad data). The only solution to take news is news organisations that people can trust. Historically, local news organisations have always been the most trusted, but their income has been absolutely decimated in the last decade or so. This feels like a desp…

This decreases the barrier to entry. Sometimes that's all it takes to encourage the wrong things. The overall system is failing because it cannot adapt to the new internet age. Hopefully something changes and we get reliable news.

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#43

Post by mtgx »

reallydattrue wrote: post #14

Very Relevant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ut5GqQ1f4 Google will one day be the arbitrators of news. If it doesn't fit in their world view, whether it's true or not. Will be removed from the results. I think now is the time to setup a different model and remove their monopoly. Internet freedoms are at stake here. Do no evil? Yeah right.

Even more worrisome would be that the more they go down this path, the more governments will come to them to censor "offensive" stuff.

Same with advertisers. How long until the recent "advertiser-friendly" policies, which have been implemented for Youtube and stop monetization for any Youtuber that might offend an advertiser in any way, will be implemented for news, too?

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#44

Post by divbit »

For the reporters friends I have, not sure how I feel about that - if I was a reporter, I feel I would want some software which enhances and improves my job experience and reporting ability, rather than flat out replaces it. (Not to criticize google, I'm sure any company startup, could be doing the same).

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#45

Post by DanBC »

akhilcacharya wrote: post #35
11thEarlOfMar wrote: post #2

I ran across this article while researching a stock and as I read, I kept thinking, "This was not written by a person. This was written by software." [0] I checked the attribution, and there is a person's name on it. Sure, any hack can write and publish and this is probably just another example. But the odd style doesn't even strike me as 'writing the way I think' or writing and publishing quickly without editing. Fo…

This is definitely machine generated. http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/05/20/406484294/an-np...

That's a great example, because I much prefer the robot version of the Denny article to the human created version.

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#46

Post by Simon_says »

jimrandomh wrote: post #17

I would strongly prefer that robo-written news not exist, not appear in the results of any searches I make, and not appear in any feed that I read. It is pollution that makes real information and insight harder to find. Does anyone actually like this stuff?

I feel differently. I think there's a place for information that people would like to read as prose but the economics don't make sense to pay someone to write it. I feel like this is an advance that's increasing the wealth of the world because we're going to get more text while spending fewer man-hours on it.

And it's just going to get better over time. It's obvious now when something was written by a bot, but I doubt that's going to be true for much longer.

But, it should probably be labeled as such. Giving such text a human name as the author is indefensible.

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#48

Post by DanBC »

There are 2 things I hope google or other AI companies focus on.

1) Making board papers more readable. There's a bunch of trusts in the NHS who have a stream of very complex board papers. Something to reduce un-needed complexity would save a lot of time and potentially money.

2) Converting all important documents to an Easy Read version. There are a bunch of writing styles for people with learning disability, low IQ, or low literacy. Easy Read is one. A company like Google focusing on this would be good because they'd improve the evidence base; they'd bring a bit more standardisation; and they'd improve access to information for many people.

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#49

Post by Shivetya »

11thEarlOfMar wrote: post #2

I ran across this article while researching a stock and as I read, I kept thinking, "This was not written by a person. This was written by software." [0] I checked the attribution, and there is a person's name on it. Sure, any hack can write and publish and this is probably just another example. But the odd style doesn't even strike me as 'writing the way I think' or writing and publishing quickly without editing. Fo…

I am curious though, will these systems have pen names? A simple name easy enough to recognize as machine written without the need for disclaimer? Could competition be more easily obtained between different companies based on which pen name attracts the most viewers?

the one concern I have is someone has to give ths system enough information to create a story and what prevents a fake news machine?

Re: Google is funding the creation of software that writes local news stories

#50

Post by hellbanner »

11thEarlOfMar wrote: post #2

I ran across this article while researching a stock and as I read, I kept thinking, "This was not written by a person. This was written by software." [0] I checked the attribution, and there is a person's name on it. Sure, any hack can write and publish and this is probably just another example. But the odd style doesn't even strike me as 'writing the way I think' or writing and publishing quickly without editing. Fo…

"AP's robot journalists are writing their own stories now"

https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/29/7939067/ap-journalism-aut...

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