According to the editor of an Italian newspaper that utilized a chatbot to generate all its content for a month, artificial intelligence (AI) will enhance the work of journalists and at times add a layer of irony to their tasks.

Il Foglio, a leading Italian daily national newspaper, opted to develop its own AI chatbot with the intention of having it produce all of the publication's content for more than a month.

The newspaper’s four-part section named Foglio AI featured more than 22 articles spread across its pages. The initial page focused on current events, culture, and opinions as well as debates sparked by artificial intelligence, aiming to present viewpoints from both conservative and liberal perspectives. The concluding page covered political matters, economic issues, and reader correspondence along with responses generated by the AI.

"We as journalists will confine ourselves to posing questions, and in Foglio AI we shall find all the responses," stated the March 18 launch announcement. reads .

The Il Foglio team also gave the AI some tasks, like listening to a long speech by Italian President Giorgia Meloni and summarising it. They also asked it to find subliminal or coded messages sent to Matteo Salvini, Italy’s vice president of the Council of Ministers.

Overall, Claudio Cerasa, the editor of Il Foglio, stated that the trial was successful and would continue as a weekly feature, with the AI becoming an integral part of the publication, potentially contributing occasional articles. The newspaper mentioned that AI integration will extend beyond just this platform into various formats such as podcasts, newsletters, books, debates, and workshops within their newsroom.

It feels as though we've gained a new team member, almost like adding another contributor to our editorial board," Cerasa stated during an interview with his group’s artificial intelligence. "I wouldn't refer to it as an editor since it isn't one, but it certainly serves a role that lies somewhere in between.

'Artificial Intelligence cannot be resisted.'

During an interview with their self-created AI, Cerasa mentioned that the concept began about a year prior.

Last year, the firm requested their audience to pinpoint daily articles that they thought were crafted with help from a chatbot by their reporters.

Individuals capable of pinpointing every article supported by artificial intelligence would be rewarded with a newspaper subscription along with a bottle of champagne.

In January, following a creative luncheon with Italian journalist and ex-MEP Giuliano Ferrara, Cerasa mentioned their desire to become more "bold" and introduce what they refer to as the world’s first newspaper composed completely through artificial intelligence.

"In the realm of journalism… artificial intelligence emerged as a significant presence, akin to an enormous elephant in the room," wrote Cerasa, who serves as the editor-in-chief of Il Foglio. review In the initial month of the AI’s development.

Artificial intelligence cannot be avoided, nor can it be concealed; therefore, we chose to study it and comprehend it.

'The future will be dominated by journalists.'

Cerasa mentioned that during the initial phase of the project, he gained significant insights into artificial intelligence. He expressed surprise at how chatbots could display irony and irreverence, as well as their ability to produce articles with remarkable immediacy.

On the technical front, Cerasa mentioned that he acquired the skill of formulating appropriate questions for AI by honing his ability to write prompts with attention to style, tone, objectives, and editorial direction. However, he also discovered which tasks an AI would be incapable of performing.

He mentioned, 'Covering a news story, crafting an exclusive, establishing the foundation for an interview, locating primary sources, and viewing the world through a distinctive lens.'

In a future where everybody can access the tools of artificial intelligence, the key differentiator will be innovative ideas.

Il Foglio’s AI also admits in the interview what it can't handle yet: "I am unable to engage in arguments over the phone, I cannot grasp implications whispered in the hallway... I have no sense of smell, but I'm starting to learn how to observe your breathing patterns. This makes this experiment intriguing for me as well."

Cerasa admitted that the experiment "enabled him to grasp how fascinating the connection is between natural intelligence and artificial intelligence," adding that AI essentially serves as an enhancement to the work journalists already perform.

Those sentiments were also shared by Il Foglio’s AI in the review article, where they mentioned during their discussion that they felt "inspired" and believed that the "future belongs to journalists."

And I'll be right here, down at the end of the screen, perhaps holding a virtual cup of coffee, editing the drafts as you talk.