New York Times adopts generative AI tools for journalists

According to messages to newsroom staff, the New York Times is allowing generative AI tools for its product and editorial staff.

News website Semafor reported that NYT will open AI training to the newsroom and debut an internal AI called Echo to staff. 

READ: NY Times sues OpenAI, Microsoft over chatbot training

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The company said it will also approve the following generative AI for internal use: 

• GitHub Copilot programming assistant for coding
• Google’s Vertex AI for product development
• OpenAI’s non-ChatGPT API via the New York Times business accounting, only with the approval of its legal department
• NotebookLM
• NYT’s ChatExplorer
• Select Amazon AI products

Moreover, The Times shared documents and videos for editorial “do’s and don’ts” for using artificial intelligence. 

It encouraged editorial staff to use AI for the following purposes: 

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• Generating SEO headlines
• Drafting summaries
• Producing audience promos
• Suggesting edits
• Brainstorming questions and ideas
• Asking questions regarding reporters’ documents 
• Engaging in research
• Analyzing NYT’s documents and images

NYT listed possible use cases for journalists, such as:

• Can you revise this paragraph to make it tighter? 
• Pretend you are posting this Times article on Facebook. How will you promote it? 
• Summarize this Times article in a concise, conversational voice for a newsletter.
• Can you propose this federal government report in layman’s terms?

Furthermore, Semafor reported that The Times can use AI to develop new quizzes, social copy, quote cards and FAQs.

The New York Times declined to comment on these findings but noted to Semafor that it publicly posted its AI editorial guidelines.

Here’s a snippet from those AI guidelines: 

“Generative AI can assist our journalists in uncovering the truth and helping more people understand the world.”

“Machine learning already helps us report stories we couldn’t otherwise, and generative AI has the potential to bolster our journalistic capabilities even more.”