Artificial intelligence is here to stay. At MU, students learn how to use it for truth | Opinion

In my office at the University of Missouri sits a shelf laden with Betamax video tapes, the coveted video technology that emerged in the mid-1970s. Today, however, there isn’t a device in the building that could play them.

Technology has revolutionized our world since the beginning of time. It was radio in the ‘20s, television in the ‘50s and the internet in the ‘90s — innovations that laid the foundation for the creation of generative artificial intelligence today.

As a former TV journalist and a professor in the University of Missouri School of Journalism for the past 13 years, embracing technological advancement is the bedrock of my job. When ChatGPT — the chatbot with human-like language capabilities — was launched by OpenAI in November 2022, I prepared for an inevitable inflection point with the academy, something that would transform education.

ChatGPT has my university colleagues worried about the future of teaching and learning. And six months ago, I would have conceded that it might be the worst thing that ever happened to us. Today, though, I see potential.

For an ever-changing news industry, generative AI (a type of artificial intelligence technology) represents opportunities for cautious growth. In professional newsrooms, algorithms can be used to support data-driven stories, create news summaries and social media content. At the same time, quality work still depends on people to oversee the final product.

As seen from the new Microsoft-powered Bing chatbot’s attempted romantic dalliance with a New York Times tech journalist, chatbots require human intervention, at the very least, to fact-check. For student journalists learning the ropes of the profession, ChatGPT is a useful tool for learning not only the value of careful verification to safeguard journalistic credibility, but also how easy it is to manufacture false narratives in today’s news climate.

Over the past decade, wrangling disinformation has become an essential skill for journalists’ success. In a modern industry where generative technology has become woven into the fabric of everyday life, disinformation could become even simpler, cheaper and easier to manufacture, thus making it easier to weaponize.

With that in mind, I confronted what the artificial intelligence revolution means for the future of journalism education. In a masters-level class on social media strategy, I introduced a chatbot as a tool for learning and innovation, using ChatGPT-generated content to facilitate discussions among college students on the ethical ramifications of using the chatbot as part of the journalistic process.

The first part of the assignment asks students to draft a social media post for Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, and then interact with ChatGPT until they get a piece of content that they’re comfortable with. Then begins the comparison.

My goal in asking students to compare and contrast their original, human-generated text with the result from using artificial intelligence technology is to encourage reflection on using the chatbot as a tool to streamline the journalistic process. Using ChatGPT as a tool prompted discussions about credibility, authenticity and trust with audiences that otherwise students might not have encountered as early in their careers.

Ultimately, generative AI is positioned for many positive changes within higher education. For one, it’s helpful in translating dense scientific information into layman’s terms and shortening the time students spend paging through complex studies. Also, as the chatbot’s algorithm has a propensity for reinforcing disinformation, it provides ample fodder for students to practice their research and fact-checking skills.

Through the rise of disinformation as seen during the 2016 election and the COVID-19 pandemic, the news industry has continued to prioritize fact-checking, a vital element of journalism to which ChatGPT brings another dimension. This could look different for different types of reporting — for example, relying on public databases to double-check information, using maps and becoming better acquainted with libraries and archive systems.

Education is all about equipping students with the skills they need to adjust and be successful within a changing industry. Leaning into emerging technologies, such as ChatGPT, and teaching students to think critically about their work and the world around them will enable them to fulfill their societal role and create high-quality journalism that audiences depend upon every day.

Amy Simons is a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a former TV producer.