Artificial Intelligence (AI) and science journalism: ethical issues and training conundrums

Desciption

The objective of this panel is to discuss and reflect about role and impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on science journalism. We will start the session presenting the views of science journalists about their hopes for, fears about, and current use of, AI tools. The data are drawn from a study conducted using an online survey (March – May, 2024).

The survey was answered by about 120 science journalists, including professionals from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and Non BRIC countries and we have sought to compare the responses addressing differences between journalists representing these regions. Among the results, the respondents expressed both hopes and fears about AI, and a limited use of sophisticated AI tools (in both BRIC and non-BRIC countries). They expressed concerns related to ethical issues and the potential for a lack of access to AI tools from journalists from the Global South.

However, journalists across both regions make use of AI tools to support their writing and see potential benefits arising from these tools when working in a second language. Based on the results, the panellists will suggest recommendations focusing particularly in the areas of ethics and training related to the use of AI tools in science coverage. The second part of the session aims to engage the participants to reflect on the results and on the recommendations. The study was conducted by the University of the West of England (UK), the Indian Institute for Science Education and Research (India) and the Brazil’s National Institute of Public Communication of Science and Technology (Brazil).