Zero AI in news?

I am a big proponent of AI as a tool. I cannot understand why large firms want to give AI agency, but that is a topic for another post.

I believe that AI, when used as a tool, will help most industries and employees work better, smarter, and more efficiently.

Take the software industry, for example. A good software engineer today can generate more efficient, better-tested code using state-of-the-art design patterns and paradigms with the help of AI tools than they can without them.

The logistics industry can take into account far more parameters and variables when calculating the best way to ship a product from one place to another.

Translation, text-to-voice, and summarization services can help organizations reach more people more reliably and in their language of choice.

The list of examples is as long as the list of industries.

There is just one industry where I feel AI should not be used, or should be used very judiciously, and that is the news industry. This excludes translation, summarization, and similar assistive tasks.

News is not something that can be generated like a story. It requires ethical journalists to uncover new information, cross-check facts, gather multiple viewpoints, and ensure veracity before presenting it to their audience. AI can dissect the past and may even predict the future, but it cannot capture the present the way journalists can.

Just as we have badges that indicate zero pesticides in organic products, zero animal products in vegan food, and zero trans fats in healthy food, do you think we should seriously consider a badge for zero AI in news and journalism?

What's your take?