For over two decades, the print media industry has faced relentless challenges from digital technology. From Craigslist disrupting classified ads to social media changing reading habits, traditional journalism has been on the back foot. Now, with the emergence of generative AI, publications are exploring new ways to integrate this technology into their workflows.
– AI in Newsrooms
Several major publications have partnered with AI firms like OpenAI to experiment with AI-driven content creation. These experiments range from translating articles into multiple languages to drafting summaries and full-length articles. Among these, the Italian newspaper Il Foglio stands out with its innovative approach.
Il Foglio’s AI Experiment
For one month starting in late March, Il Foglio introduced a daily insert featuring AI-generated articles. Claudio Cerasa, the newspaper’s top editor, utilized ChatGPT Pro to draft articles on various topics, from Italian politics to AI itself. The articles were reviewed by humans to catch errors, some of which were intentionally left to highlight AI’s limitations.
Cerasa sees AI as an unavoidable force, akin to managing the wind, and plans to incorporate AI-written content permanently. The newspaper will issue a weekly AI section and occasionally use AI to draft articles for its standard editions, ensuring transparency by labeling such content.
Transparency and Challenges
Il Foglio’s strategy is transparent, clearly distinguishing between human and AI-generated content. This approach contrasts with other publications that have mixed AI and human writing without disclosure, leading to errors and fabrications, as seen in a recent incident with major American regional papers.
In a conversation with Cerasa, he expressed an optimistic yet cautious view of AI in journalism. While acknowledging the technology’s flaws, he believes AI can enhance journalism if treated as a colleague rather than a replacement. He emphasizes that AI is meant to augment human intelligence, not replace it.
AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement
Cerasa warns against using AI to cut costs by replacing journalists. Instead, he sees AI as a tool that can assist in research, summarizing documents, and, in some cases, writing. However, AI cannot develop sources, conduct interviews, or generate original ideas.
One of Il Foglio’s early experiments involved hiding AI-written articles in the newspaper and asking readers to identify them. This exercise helped the editorial team refine their prompts and improve both AI and human article writing.
The Future of AI in Journalism
Cerasa acknowledges the potential of AI to perform tasks better than some journalists, but he insists that this underscores the need for skilled human journalists. He also recognizes the concern that AI could disrupt the talent pipeline by replacing entry-level roles, such as fact-checking.
Despite these challenges, Cerasa remains confident in Il Foglio’s unique style and skill set, which he believes will continue to differentiate the newspaper from others. He stresses the importance of educating people on using AI responsibly and transparently, without fear.
As the media landscape evolves, Il Foglio’s approach to AI offers valuable insights into how technology can be harnessed to complement, rather than compete with, human journalism.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/06/il-foglio-claudio-cerasa-ai/683158/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.