Microsoft is trying to replace journalists with AI

Microsoft has started a plan to 'replace journalists with artificial intelligence (AI)' in

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/microsoft-is-cutting-dozens-of-msn-news-production-workers-and-replacing-them-with-artificial-intelligence/

Microsoft sacks journalists to replace them with robots | Technology | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/30/microsoft-sacks-journalists-to-replace-them-with-robots

Microsoft lays off journalists to replace them with AI-The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/30/21275524/microsoft-news-msn-layoffs-artificial-intelligence-ai-replacements

Microsoft has been in the news business for over 25 years since it launched MSN, a portal site service, in 1995. In 'My News' distributed on Microsoft's MSN News and Microsoft News, and the browser Microsoft Edge , articles modified by other news organizations are reported daily by Microsoft.

Regarding such Microsoft's news department, it became clear that AI, not human beings, is selecting, editing and curating articles. Approximately 50 journalists and editors who had contracts with Microsoft through the staffing agency Aquent, IFG, and MAQ Consulting in the United States, and 27 people who contracted with Microsoft through PA Media, a telecommunications company in the United Kingdom, said `` 6/20 The contract will be terminated after the 30th of the month. ' About this cause, one employee revealed that 'Microsoft will replace journalists with AI,' subject to anonymity.

MSN uses algorithms to identify 'hit articles' from the articles reported by the press. AI will rewrite the headline and add photos and slide shows to optimize the content. It seems that automation by AI has been promoted so far, but Microsoft is expected to replace a large part with AI after June 30.

In addition, only contract employees through a temporary staffing company will be replaced by AI, and the editors directly employed by Microsoft will continue to be employed, Seattle Times reports. In one case, a Microsoft spokeswoman said, 'As with all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis, which results in increased investment in some departments and, in some cases, in others. Can be replaced by a department of the company. These decisions have nothing to do with the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection, 'he said.