The Los Angeles Times has recently introduced a new AI tool designed to generate opposing perspectives for opinion articles, an initiative led by its billionaire owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong. The move, aimed at reinvigorating the paper’s appeal to old and new subscribers alike, has quickly drawn scrutiny following some controversial outputs. Notably, within 24 hours of its launch, the AI tool produced comments that softened the portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan, described in an opinion piece as a troubling aspect of Anaheim’s history. This misstep has raised questions about the tool’s effectiveness and the editorial oversight mechanism in place to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.
During an interview with CNN, Soon-Shiong acknowledged his unawareness of the scandal surrounding the AI’s outputs and referred to the incident as a learning moment, highlighting the need for operational checks and balances within the new system. He expressed confidence in the AI tool’s potential, stating that it aims to provide inclusive perspectives rather than divisive ones, although the immediate backlash reveals the challenges ahead as the publication seeks to change its image.
In the midst of this AI-related uproar, another opinion article regarding President Donald Trump’s strategies during the Los Angeles wildfires was criticized for being mislabeled as centrist, despite containing overtly right-leaning viewpoints. Moreover, the AI-generated responses to this piece failed to address a key aspect of Trump’s behavior: his conditional offer of federal aid, which underscored political tensions more than it balanced the discussion.
The AI tool, dubbed “Insights,” seeks to analyze the bias in articles and provide counter-narratives, making use of a content management system built on decades of archived Times content. However, early feedback indicates significant flaws, including sourcing issues and duplicates that raise concerns over the AI’s reliability. Soon-Shiong outlines that while human oversight exists, it is challenging to monitor and correct all AI outputs in real time due to the scale of content produced.
Soon-Shiong also announced plans to integrate further AI capabilities, a move reflecting the Times’ struggle to attract younger audiences amidst ongoing financial difficulties within the news industry. Recent months have seen declining subscription numbers and considerable staff turnover due to dissatisfaction with editorial decisions, particularly those perceived to align too closely with political figures, including Trump.
In a wider context, the LA Times is not alone in navigating the complexities of digital media transformations, facing pressures akin to those influencing its competitors, such as the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos. As the industry grapples with technology’s impact on journalism, discussions over biases—both human and machine—remain at the forefront. The challenge ahead for the LA Times involves not only refining its AI tools but also rebuilding trust with its audience amid the evolving landscape of news consumption and editorial independence.