St. Pete news org introduces AI reporter ‘Cora Quantum’

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. By Shutthiphong Chandaeng via iStock for WMNF News.

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A St Petersburg news outlet just hired a new journalist: artificial intelligence.

Joe Hamilton is the Editor in Chief for the St. Pete Catalyst.

In May, it announced a new journalist named Cora Quantum, an AI-generated persona. Hamilton says it will quote amplify local journalists.

“The stories are good, the content’s good, and, certainly there’s a certain flavor of content that best fits Cora, and we stick in those lanes, but very positive for the most part.”

Quantum has covered stories such as Pinellas County Commission meetings and tech conferences. Hamilton says every story created by AI is reviewed by a human.

Alex Mahadevan is the director of MediaWise at Poynter Institute. He surveyed audiences’ thoughts on AI and says the results are grim.

“We learned that most people are pretty hesitant about news organizations using AI. There’s already a trust problem in journalism so throwing AI in there was more problematic.”

He says giving the persona a face and a name gives him pause.

“That can rub people the wrong way in an uncanny valley way, and also it brings up some interesting ethical questions about, are you very clear that this is a robot doing the work?”

The Catalyst’s Joe Hamilton says people tend to focus on the risks more than the benefits.

“When you read a great article and, you know, you happen to see that it was written by Cora, and you just got your information and moved on with your life, and you were served by that news, what’s there to worry about?”

Currently, major news outlets like USA Today and the Associated Press use AI in their reporting.

 

 

 

2 Responses to “St. Pete news org introduces AI reporter ‘Cora Quantum’”

  1. disqus_2LKMIzuxKT

    The catalyst is a pinko commie rag and this development lays bare their total disregard for journalistic integrity or responsibility or the community they profess to serve.

    Reply
  2. Mike

    This article exposes the catalyst for their antisocial behavior. This article begins by articulating how awful ai in journalism is and how people do not want it. This opinion is direct from nationally recognized experts in the study of journalism.

    joe hamiltons response is totally unacceptable. How arrogant and irresponsible can one person be? The catalyst totally ignores the warnings and is completely oblivious to the damage they do and completely oblivious to their responsibilities as "journalists".

    Positively disgusting posture and development from joe hamilton.

    awful. The catalyst is awful. Joe hamilton is also awful.

    Reply

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