The Italian newspaper Il Foglio has conducted an experiment using artificial intelligence to write a four-page daily insert for a month. According to Editor Claudio Cerasa, the AI demonstrated impressive capabilities, particularly in writing book reviews and conveying irony.
The AI excelled in analyzing 700-page books and generating insightful critiques within minutes. However, it required guidance on the tone, which raised concerns about lack of critical thinking. Cerasa was impressed by the AI's sense of irony, finding it genuinely effective in writing ironic articles on various topics.
Despite its capabilities, the AI occasionally made factual errors and failed to update its knowledge base. For instance, it persistently referred to Donald Trump's 2024 re-election, which hasn't occurred yet.
Il Foglio plans to publish a separate AI-written section weekly and occasionally use AI for articles on specialized topics where the newspaper lacks expertise. Cerasa emphasizes that AI won't replace quality journalism but will instead augment it, forcing reporters to dig deeper and be more original.
