Public Broadcaster Affirms Commitment to Journalism: AI Will Not Replace Journalists, Says Managing Director
ABC Managing Director David Anderson stated, “There is no way we would let AI replace what we have as the craft of journalism.”
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Managing Director David Anderson has affirmed that the public broadcaster will not substitute its journalists with AI.
During a budget estimate hearing on May 30, members of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee expressed concerns about the swift adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by some media outlets and its impact on the quality of journalism.
In response, Mr. Anderson reassured that the ABC has no intention of allowing AI to take control.
“There is no way we would let AI replace what we have as the craft of journalism—that is independent public journalism, which is crucial for the ABC,” he emphasized.
“What we have explored with AI is using it as a tool for research and language conversion for the Australian public.”
Related Stories
Mr. Anderson also mentioned that the ABC had not entered into any agreements with AI service providers due to concerns about the ethics of utilizing open-source AI.
“We haven’t made any deals, but there are ethical considerations involved that delve into various aspects of the content being reviewed,” he explained.
Additionally, Mr. Anderson highlighted that the ABC had established a committee to assess the impact of AI on the media and the public broadcaster, which includes experts from technology, legal, and related fields.
“This group has been developing a set of principles to assist staff in understanding AI-related changes,” he stated.
ABC’s Guidance on the Use of AI
The broadcaster also has its own guidelines regarding the use of AI in its content, as shared by Mr. Anderson.
“Currently, we are not utilizing AI in our content. We adhere to a disclosure principle: if AI is used, we will disclose that information to the audience,” he noted.
Though, Mr. Anderson admitted that AI is a rapidly evolving area and the ABC is striving to keep up with these developments.
He assured that the broadcaster would continue updating its principles and maintain transparency with the Australian audience concerning its actions.
The company aims to cut $65 million (US$43 million) in operating costs due to a notable decline in advertising revenue.
While implementing reforms to ensure profitability, News Corp has hinted at expanding the use of AI-generated content to reduce expenses.
Impact of Meta Ending News Contract
Mr. Anderson also discussed the repercussions of Meta terminating news contracts with the broadcaster in December 2024.
Following the implementation of the News Media Bargaining Code in 2021, tech giants Google and Meta engaged in commercial agreements with local news organizations to feature Australian content they produced.
The government estimated that Australian media firms had received up to $200 million (US$130 million) from these agreements thus far.
Although Mr. Anderson couldn’t disclose the ABC’s received funding due to confidentiality, he highlighted that the ABC invested in over 60 journalists in regional, rural, and remote Australia with the support they received.
He stressed the necessity of this investment due to the closure of media outlets in numerous regional areas.
“Our presence in regional Australia is extremely vital, particularly as we approach the summer and bushfire season,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mr. Anderson acknowledged that the broadcaster is facing financial challenges.
“It’s a significant loss of revenue that we need to prepare for as we had additional plans for the funding coming into the ABC. This is a cause for concern,” he expressed.
“We are still deciding on how to approach this issue.”
