{"id":792,"date":"2024-05-30T21:19:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T21:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/?p=792"},"modified":"2024-06-21T15:30:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T15:30:38","slug":"humans-control-the-levers-and-ultimately-the-ethics-of-ai-tools-expert-panelists-agree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/2024\/05\/30\/humans-control-the-levers-and-ultimately-the-ethics-of-ai-tools-expert-panelists-agree\/","title":{"rendered":"Humans control the levers \u2014 and ultimately the ethics \u2014 of AI tools, expert panelists agree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A panel discussion on journalism ethics in the age of AI covered a wide range of issues at the Carleton University-hosted industry roundtable in Toronto on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Journalism and AI roundtable: Ethics and news organization guidelines\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gRnZRRGoNGc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Panel chair Aneurin Bosley was joined by former Radio-Canada AI specialist Florent Daudens, Torontoverse creator and AI advocate Chris Dinn and \u2014 via video link \u2014 Singapore-based journalist Gina Chua, executive editor of AI-innovating Semafor and formerly a senior editor with the <em>Wall Street Journal Asia<\/em> and Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The panelists combated unfounded fears and misconceptions about AI while discussing ways in which thoughtful guidelines can regulate the technology&#8217;s use to avoid unethical choices by journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6507-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6507-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6507-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6507-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6507-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6507-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Chris Dinn, founder and publisher of the Torontoverse digital news site, in conversation with panel chair Aneurin Bosley of Carleton University and Hugging Face AI specialist and Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al lecturer Florent Daudens, former lead on AI issues with Radio-Canada. The panel also included Semafor executive editor Gina Chua, a former senior journalist with Reuters and<em> Wall Street Journal Asia<\/em>.  Journalism &amp; Artificial Intelligence: An Industry Roundtable, was held May 30, 2024 in Toronto. The event, organized by Carleton University&#8217;s School of Journalism and Communication, was held on the eve of the Canadian Association of Journalists annual conference and awards gala. [Roundtable News Team]<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Daudens, who spearheaded AI learning initiatives at Radio-Canada, talked about the process of developing <a href=\"https:\/\/cbc.radio-canada.ca\/en\/vision\/governance\/approach-to-artificial-intelligence\">ethics guidelines<\/a> at the French-language branch of the CBC before he left to work at <a href=\"https:\/\/huggingface.co\/\">Hugging Face<\/a>, a machine learning and data science platform.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s really important to understand what\u2019s under the hood,\u201d Daudens said of AI technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI models are imperfect and can be biased, but rather than finding flaws with the technology, all three panelists said it\u2019s incumbent on journalists to understand the AI training and fine-tuning process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTraining is all about volume,\u201d Dinn said. \u201cThe quality of the data is way less important than the quantity.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe all have a pretty strong understanding of how cars work even though we\u2019re not all mechanics. We\u2019re going to have to have that same sort of relationship with this technology.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Chris Dinn, founder and publisher at Torontoverse<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As a software developer, Dinn said he knows the ins and outs of AI technology, and like the other panelists, he said many concerns about issues with AI application in journalism depend on transparency and the decisions of journalists.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An audience member raised the question of AI being fed inaccurate data, which would only serve to reinforce disinformation, particularly about misrepresented and marginalized groups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chua responded, referring to her role as part of the Trans Journalist Association and the conversations they have about building news organizations that can support underserved communities. They use AI to create <a href=\"https:\/\/styleguide.transjournalists.org\/\">accessible style guides<\/a> and a misinformation classifier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her view, misinformation and histories of misrepresentation must be remedied by the news organization. This problem doesn&#8217;t lie with AI, Chua insisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6527-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6527-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6527-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6527-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6527-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6527-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Panel chair Aneurin Bosley speaks with Florent Daudens, Chris Dinn and Gina Chua at Journalism &amp; Artificial Intelligence: An Industry Roundtable, held May 30, 2024 in Toronto. The event, organized by Carleton University&#8217;s School of Journalism and Communication, was held on the eve of the Canadian Association of Journalists annual conference and awards gala. [Roundtable News Team]<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think there are real opportunities for people to redefine news and news judgment,\u201d Chua said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Principles and judgment are the crux of the issue, which the panelists said don\u2019t actually have much to do with AI \u2014 it\u2019s all in the guidelines and ethics of the journalists and their news organizations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe should be really specific about what we\u2019re asking (AI) to do and ensure it\u2019s doing it really well,\u201d Chua said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if the ultimate responsibility for ethical behaviour falls on journalists, then the burden of guidelines becomes heavier. Daudens said guidelines with a long list of \u201cdon&#8217;ts\u201d aren\u2019t the most conducive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe way we approach this in Radio-Canada, not to say that it was perfect, but we really rely on the editorial judgment of the teams,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than seeing guidelines as a strict law book, he said they are there to train journalists on ethical conduct.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chua said there\u2019s a broader issue preceding this discussion about AI in regards to ethical guidelines. The bigger concern is doing away with standards established by and for dominant interests that have  historically ostracized and misrepresented many marginalized groups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI do think that the coverage (of AI) could be a lot better, but I do think the coverage of a lot of things could be better and lamenting it won\u2019t do very much,\u201d Chua said. \u201cMy belief is that people want to do the right thing.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While AI use, whether simple translation or complex data analysis, does complicate current ideas about truth and transparency, Dinn said that&#8217;s why guidelines are ever-evolving. As the times change, so do the circumstances and certainly the terms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI worry people are more likely to strangle innovation with stringent ethics guidelines,\u201d Dinn said, which he said often happens when journalists don\u2019t understand enough about AI.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wants to keep the conversation about AI going and recognize the continuous changes with public demands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe all have a pretty strong understanding of how cars work even though we\u2019re not all mechanics,\u201d Dinn said, extending Daudens&#8217; automobile metaphor. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to have that same sort of relationship with this technology.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The panelists appeared to gain consensus around the idea that as long as humans remain at the core of accountability and responsibility for following guidelines and practicing ethical news judgment, the application of AI in newsrooms shouldn\u2019t cause any catastrophes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Daudens said newsrooms and journalists should have more conversations with the public to see how the broader society understands the news and how they think AI could fit into their relationship with journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6521-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6521-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6521-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6521-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6521-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_6521-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Journalist Angela Mullins asks a question during a panel with Aneurin Bosley, Chris Dinn, Florent Daudens and Gina Chua at Journalism &amp; Artificial Intelligence: An Industry Roundtable, held May 30, 2024 in Toronto.  [Roundtable News Team]<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, significant challenges loom. The roundtable&#8217;s discussion on AI and ethics focused on text-based AIs such as <a href=\"https:\/\/guides.nyu.edu\/chatgpt\">ChatGPT and other LLMs<\/a>, but one audience member brought up ethical concerns regarding deepfakes and AIs that could potentially reveal anonymous identities by unblurring faces in investigative news reports, potentially endangering vulnerable sources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are obsessed with text and it\u2019s a mistake,\u201d Daudens said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One possible way to attack the problem area of video and audio AI manipulation would be through further engagement with the technology industry \u2014 an idea that sets off alarms for many news organizations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNews media organizations don\u2019t think about themselves as tech companies and sometimes refuse to do it,\u201d Daudens continued. \u201cI think it\u2019s a huge mistake.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are so many technologists that want to work in media technology but nobody will take them seriously,\u201d&nbsp;Dinns added. \u201cPeople want to build this technology. You just need to find them.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A panel discussion on journalism ethics in the age of AI covered a wide range of issues at the Carleton University-hosted industry roundtable in Toronto on Thursday. Panel chair Aneurin Bosley was joined by former Radio-Canada AI specialist Florent Daudens, Torontoverse creator and AI advocate Chris Dinn and \u2014 via video link \u2014 Singapore-based journalist &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=792"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":924,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792\/revisions\/924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/journalism-and-AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}