AI search tools and chatbots may make news less visible and reliable
Why has the New Zealand government excluded AI from the bill?
The New Zealand government has decided to leave AI considerations out of its plans to revive the previous government's Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, with Minister Paul Goldsmith stating that the "broad issue of AI" would be considered later4. The proposed bill focuses on requiring Google and Meta to pay news companies for their content, and aims to address the challenges faced by local news organizations in receiving payments from tech giants4.
How could changes in AI search impact media revenues and democracy?
Changes in AI search could impact media revenues and democracy by altering the visibility and reliability of news sources. AI-powered search engines and chatbots may provide less diverse news content and link to random, non-news sources. Additionally, the potential disappearance of links in AI-generated search responses could affect the revenue news companies receive from AI providers, impacting their financial sustainability. These changes may also influence the quality of information available to the public, affecting democratic processes and an informed citizenry.
How might AI search tools impact news visibility and reliability?
AI search tools may impact news visibility and reliability by increasing the risk of returning false, misleading, or partially correct information. They can also lead to a decrease in web traffic to external news websites and make news content less diverse. Users should be cautious when using AI-powered searches and chatbots for news information.