Failing Washington Post wants to replace its journalists with AI bots as losses mount | The Gateway expert

The failing newspaper The Washington Post then wants to make the switch to artificial intelligence (AI). to post a humiliating loss of $77 million over the last financial year.

According to Semafor media industry editor Max Tani, the newspaper’s CEO and publisher Will Lewis told staff it plans to integrate AI across the company.

Tani reported:

Washington Post CEO Will Lewis today introduced the newspaper’s new “Build It” plan. During a meeting with staff, he noted that the paper lost $77 million last year and has seen a 50% drop in viewership since 2020: “To be honest, we are in a hole, and we already are a while. ”

Lewis says the three pillars of the new strategy are great journalism, happy customers and making money: “If we’re doing things that don’t meet all three pillars… we have to stop doing them.” He adds that the company will also look at ways to use AI in its journalism.

AI is a key part of the Post’s internal strategy announcement today. WaPo’s chief tech officer told staff that in the future the newspaper must have AI “everywhere in our newsroom.” Lewis says the company is focused on growing subscriptions organically, but is open to expanding through an acquisition if it makes sense.

Lewis says the three pillars of the new strategy are great journalism, happy customers and making money: “If we’re doing things that don’t meet all three pillars… we have to stop doing them.” He adds that the company will also look at ways to use AI in its journalism.

— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) May 22, 2024

Lewis says the company is focused on growing subscriptions organically, but is open to expanding through an acquisition if that makes sense…

— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) May 22, 2024

The After’The financial troubles come after their billionaire sugar daddy Jeff Bezos indicated he would not continue to subsidize the company’s losses. Last year, the company laid off hundreds of employees in response to the “financial difficulties” it had experienced due to declining subscriber numbers.

Coincidentally, the shift to AI coincides with the $250 million funding announcement agreement between NewsCorp and OpenAI which will provide the company with access to content from NewsCorp’s various properties including The Wall Street Journal, The New York PostAnd The Times of London.