Italian Paper Embraces AI’s Freedom and Irony

• Il Foglio’s AI initiative increases sales and establishes a weekly AI section.
• Editor Claudio Cerasa insists AI won’t take over journalism.
• Cerasa remarks on AI’s strengths in irony but its shortcomings in critical thinking.

The editor of an Italian newspaper leading the charge in artificial intelligence experimentation claims that while AI can craft an impressive book review and possesses a knack for irony, it won’t replace quality journalism.

In a pioneering move, Il Foglio released a four-page daily AI-generated insert for a month, which was sold along with its regular newspaper.

This experiment was highly successful and led to increased sales, according to editor Claudio Cerasa, who announced plans for a dedicated weekly AI section moving forward.

Cerasa mentioned that he would occasionally utilize AI to produce articles in fields where his team, a small conservative publication with 22 staff members, lacked expertise; for example, they published a recent piece on astronomy.

However, he firmly stated that using AI would not result in job losses at his publication. “Some publishers view AI as a means to reduce the number of journalists and replace them with technology, which is a misstep that could harm the industry. It’s crucial to understand how we can enhance our capabilities, rather than diminish them,” Cerasa conveyed to a small group of international journalists.

According to Cerasa, AI will generate new jobs for individuals capable of asking the right questions and making the most of the technology, and it may also stimulate high-quality journalism by motivating reporters to dig deeper and be more original in their work.

“Writers will be urged to uncover fresh angles to enhance their creativity and relatability,” he remarked.

Cerasa interacts with his AI program daily and often finds its output surprising. “The most remarkable aspect was its authentic sense of irony. If you ask it to compose an ironic article on any subject, it can do so effortlessly,” he noted. He added that the AI excels at crafting book reviews, capable of dissecting lengthy novels and producing insightful critiques in mere minutes.

The AI does need direction on whether to frame a review positively or negatively, which makes it somewhat a “hitman” for the user directing it. This limitation is a drawback, in his view. “When I provide guidance to a journalist, I value their ability to express disagreement; such discussions are essential, but AI lacks that capacity,” he explained.

He also pointed out that the AI occasionally makes factual errors and tends not to update its knowledge, citing its ongoing refusal to acknowledge that Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. presidential election.