Research is coming out fast and furious about workers in media-related industries actively integrating AI into their regular work routines. A University of Chicago study published recently surveyed 100,000 workers across multiple industries and job titles. Two of the three most likely to use AI at work? Journalists and marketers.
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As Fred, Paul, and I have witnessed this summer, broadcasters across the country are embracing AI. AI has been a major point of discussion at state broadcasting meetings and at this month’s Morning Show Boot Camp. This is a major change from the attitudes six-to-twelve months ago when AI was seen as AI-DJs and not much else. ChatGPT, for one, is seen as an all-in-one tool that can be used in programming, digital, and sales to get more done in less time.
Additionally, we’re seeing that employees are ahead of companies with AI.
A separate study of 1800 AI-forward companies by the Marketing AI Institute again showed massive uptake by employees. But it also revealed companies are slow to implement AI training to all employees. As the pie chart on the lest from the MAII study shows, only 24% of these self-selected respondents have AI training at their companies.
Education is a clear opportunity to make workers more efficient in such a competitive media marketplace. The aforementioned U Chicago study name that a lack of training was one of the top reasons why workers don’t use AI. Showing a MAJOR gender gap, lack of training was by far the the top reason for women — at 48%.
As digital pure-plays like Google and Facebook and agencies fully embrace AI, there is an urgent need for broadcasters to get our tech-forward employees AND the tech-averse trained on effective, ethical, and safe uses for ChatGPT and other tools. Our competitiveness depends on it.
Let me know your thoughts: chris@jacobsmedia.
SAG-AFTRA Approves Advertising AI Usage Guidelines
SAG-AFTRA has partnered with AI ads marketplace Narrativ, allowing union members to license their digital voice likenesses. Performers can set their own rates (at or above union minimums), specify the types of ads they’d like to appear in, and approve or reject specific offers. Each use of their voice in an ad requires the performer’s consent, ensuring control over their digital audio replicas. This deal provides actors with an opportunity to monetize their voices in AI-generated ads while maintaining control over their likeness. Details
Conde Nast Inks Deal With OpenAI
Following the lead of the Associated Press, NewsCorp, and the Atlantic, the parent company of the New Yorker, Wired, and Vogue, is partnering with OpenAI. As a part of the deal, the data-hungry AI giant gets content, and the publisher gets technology. No financial terms were disclosed. Expect more deals like these to be cut as OpenAI and others delve into real-time results and content-creators look to diversify their revenue streams. Details
Bentonville Software Firm Creates All-AI-Generated Local News Source
AI-generated local news has made its debut in Northwest Arkansas with OkayNWA, a news platform powered by artificial intelligence. Launched as an app and now revamped with a website and social media presence, it covers local events in Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Springdale. OkayNWA’s short articles, often under 400 words, focus on event recaps and promotions, accompanied by DALL-E-generated images. While branded as a news site, it functions more as an event aggregator with AI-enhanced content. Details
Will.i.am‘s Music St AI tion Inspired By Radio
The music and tech guru added a dynamic music feed into his AI app, FYI. Upon launch, the station plays mainstream music (mine launched with Noah Kahan) interspersed with music news by the AI DJ, which users can converse with. Willi.i.am told Billboard he was inspired by a visit to a radio station, and wanting to improve on the experience, “The request line has always been always been awesome for radio with when the callers get to call in and talk to the DJ or talk to the guests, but they’re limited to one person at a time,” The first AI-DJ break I heard even featured a tribute to radio. Details
Humans Vote For Humans over AI Mayor Candidate
Wyoming librarian Victor Miller was fed up by being ignored by Cheyenne’s mayor, so he decided to do something: create a custom AI mayor and run for office. Even though (as the county had to clarify in a hilarious website post) Miller did the the campaigning and was the official candidate on the ballot, he was merely a “meat avatar,” and all decisions would be handled by VIC, the “Virtual Integrated Citizen” he created using a custom ChatGPT instance. Perhaps he is ready for an AI future, but the Wyoming electorate isn’t. Miller lost the primary on Tuesday and garnered only 2.9% of the vote. Watch the local news report here.
Originally published by Jacobs Media
