Can AI really investigate?

AI can make it quicker to verify data, cross-check sources, warn of dubious information, and more. But it can also generate deepfakes and made-up stories. This idea questions the boundary between assistance and manipulation. It's not about rejecting the tool, but establishing safeguards. Augmented journalism is still ethical journalism.

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• AI that sums up the news: gain or loss?
• Are AIs better at detecting misinformation?
• AI and investigation: useful or dangerous?
• Can we trust a fact-checker AI?
• Test: live interaction with AI?

Potential guests: investigative journalist, fact-checking expert, media AI researcher.

For the radio teams:

• List to create: automated verification tools and tools to detect false information
• Thoughts from the editorial team: what should we do with the AI results?
• Sources: reliability and verifiability
• Practical workshop: role-playing with AI and fact-checking
• Digital security tools and AI to sort anonymous contributions received via secure channels
• Setting up protocols: human control  automated tool

Useful links:

AI and the future of journalism: an issue brief for stakeholders

Example of an information integrity challenge:Freedom of expression, artificial intelligence and elections