WSJ Tests AI Article Summaries

The Wall Street Journal Tests AI-Generated Article Summaries

The Wall Street Journal is experimenting with AI-generated article summaries that appear at the top of its news stories. The summaries appear as a “Key Points” box with bullets summarizing the piece. The Verge spotted the test on a story about Trump’s plans for the Department of Education, and the Journal confirmed it’s trialing the feature to see how readers respond.

A New Way to Present Information

The “Key Points” box has a message explaining that an “artificial intelligence tool created this summary” and that the summary was checked by an editor. The box also points to a page about how the WSJ and Dow Jones Newswires use AI tools.

Behind the Experiment

“We are always assessing new technologies and methods of storytelling to provide more value to our subscribers,” Taneth Evans, head of digital at the WSJ, says in a statement to The Verge. “To that end, we are currently running a series of A/B tests to understand our users’ needs with regards to summarization. The newsroom does this hand-in-hand with colleagues in technology and while speaking with readers at every step of the way. We also disclose how we leverage artificial intelligence tools to support our journalism whenever it’s used.”

Conclusion

The Wall Street Journal’s experiment with AI-generated article summaries is a step towards providing better user experience and value to its subscribers. The company’s commitment to transparency and disclosure about the use of AI tools is commendable, and it will be interesting to see how readers respond to this new feature.

FAQs

Q: Why is the Wall Street Journal experimenting with AI-generated article summaries?
A: The WSJ is testing this feature to understand its readers’ needs with regards to summarization and to provide more value to its subscribers.

Q: How will the WSJ use AI tools in its journalism?
A: The WSJ will use AI tools to support its journalism, and it will disclose how it leverages these tools to readers.

Q: What kind of information will be summarized?
A: The “Key Points” box will summarize the main points of the article, using AI-generated bullets.

Q: Will the WSJ continue to use AI-generated article summaries if the experiment is successful?
A: The WSJ has not confirmed whether it will continue to use AI-generated article summaries if the experiment is successful, but it is running a series of A/B tests to understand reader response.