By Jean Baptiste Ndabananiye
We have examined the far-reaching implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on human civilization, scrutinizing whether our creations could one day surpass us in intelligence and capability and even exterminate us all, in our recent exploration “AI-Prompted Apocalypse: Why Humanity Will Endure ”. That analysis frames AI not merely as a tool, but as a force whose rapid evolution demands both caution and foresight. Building on this reflection, a new dimension emerges: the role of AI within the very sector that shapes our understanding of the world—journalism.
Various sources affirm that AI will never match human journalists. Meanwhile, as some people in the world desire AI with intelligence equaling or even surpassing humans, Life In Humanity asks this provocative question: could these creations actually never match or replace the work of media organizations or journalists, even though current evidence strongly suggests they cannot?
AI in the newsroom: opportunities and challenges
SCIRP stands for Scientific Research Publishing and features among the largest publishers of Open Access journals. The latter ones constitute scholarly journals that make all their articles freely available online to anyone, anywhere, without paywalls or subscription fees. SCIRP in March 2025 released the comprehensive article entitled “Navigating the New Frontier: A Comprehensive Review of AI in Journalism”. Its abstract reads “This comprehensive article investigates the dynamic integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism, tracing its evolution from the initial stages of computer-assisted reporting to the current advanced applications and ethical dilemmas. The paper offers an in-depth analysis of AI’s Impact on journalism, highlighting both the enhancements in efficiency, personalization, and data reporting, as well as the challenges posed by ethical concerns, potential job displacement, and the risks of misinformation.
Through a series of case studies, the paper examines real-world applications and controversies surrounding AI in newsrooms, including the use of automated content generation and AI-driven editorial decisions. A critical discussion on ethical considerations is presented, focusing on transparency, accountability, and bias in AI systems and the need for ethical standards and industry-wide collaboration.”
The paper’s insights form one of key sources referenced throughout this article, helping to respond to the main question raised at the starting of this article.
This paper specifies the following areas as opportunities where AI is anticipated to play a vital role in the journalism profession, pointing out “The integration of advanced AI technologies into journalism is expected to evolve significantly. One key area is the advancement in Natural Language Processing (NLP), which will enable AI to generate content with unprecedented sophistication. This could lead to automated articles that are nearly indistinguishable from those written by humans, capturing nuance and stylistic elements specific to different forms of journalism. Additionally, AI’s capability in data mining and interpretation will likely deepen, allowing for the extraction of complex stories from large data sets. This will enable journalists to uncover trends and narratives that are currently hidden within vast amounts of data (Muñoz et al., 2023).”
It adds “Real-time news generation is another potential development. AI systems may soon be able to produce instant reports on live events, such as sports matches or election results, by analyzing real-time data feeds. This capability would be invaluable for providing timely and accurate news updates. There’s a clear emphasis on striking a balance between the innovative capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism and the challenges it presents. The review article has explored the evolution of AI in the field, noting its progression from basic reporting assistance to the utilization of advanced machine learning techniques and personalized content curation. The impact of AI on journalism is multifaceted. On the one hand, it has significantly improved efficiency, precision in data analysis, and the ability to generate content tailored to individual preferences.
On the other hand, AI’s rise in the newsroom brings forth pressing ethical concerns, such as the potential for job displacement among journalists, the propagation of misinformation, and the over-reliance on technology, which may overlook the nuances and context only discernible by human journalists. The case studies cited in the research article, like The Associated Press and Reuters, showcase how AI can be successfully integrated into journalistic practices. In terms of content verification, the rise of deepfakes poses a significant challenge to journalistic integrity.”
Yet, the paper highlights “Future AI tools are expected to be equipped with advanced detection capabilities to identify and flag synthetic media, thus preserving the authenticity of journalistic content.”
Advanced detection capabilities to identify and flag synthetic media refer to sophisticated tools and technologies designed to pinpoint content artificially created or manipulated, using AI. This content includes deep-fake videos, AI-generated images, or text produced by language models. These systems not only spot such content but also mark or flag it for attention, helping platforms, journalists, and audiences to distinguish between genuine and synthetic media and reduce the risk of misinformation.
The irreplaceable human touch
The paper emphasizes the irreplaceability of human journalists multiple times, from the abstract and the discussion to the conclusion, among other sections. It states “Despite these advancements in AI, the role of human journalists will remain critical. Complex stories often require a level of interpretation and narrative skill that AI currently cannot replicate. Human journalists excel in understanding the subtleties and wider context of these stories, providing the depth and clarity essential for quality journalism. Ethical decision-making is another area where human journalists are irreplaceable.
They play a crucial role in determining the direction and tone of journalistic content, ensuring that it aligns with ethical standards and serves the public interest. This is particularly important in sensitive cases where the potential for harm must be weighed against the public’s right to know (Bahroun et al., 2023).”
The paper’s conclusion and recommendation section closes definitively with these words which underscore the irreplaceability of human journalists. “Investigative journalism is another field where humans are indispensable. Uncovering hidden truths often requires persistence, intuition, and an ability to engage with sources on a personal level – qualities that AI lacks. Human journalists bring unique skills to these investigations, blending analytical thinking with empathetic understanding.
Emotional intelligence and empathy are key in storytelling, especially in feature writing and human-interest stories. The ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level and convey the human aspect of stories is a uniquely human skill and one that is critical to impactful journalism (Jerbi, 2023).
Articles published on Frontiers and Brookings don’t disagree with that run by SCIRP. While acknowledging AI’s opportunities, these articles— based on AI limitations— also emphasize upon human journalists’ irreplaceability.
Frontiers— in its 25 June 2025 article headlined “Can artificial intelligence replace journalists? A theoretical approach”— says “In the digital age, journalism is facing significant transformations due to the impact of artificial intelligence, a technology that optimizes processes, but also poses ethical and technical dilemmas. Academic studies, technical reports, and case studies were reviewed to evaluate the use of AI in newsrooms, highlighting its capabilities in automation, personalization, and data analysis, along with its ethical and operational limitations.
Among the main results, it is identified that artificial intelligence is effective for tasks such as automated news generation and massive data analysis, but its inability to perform critical analysis and ethical decisions limits it as a complete substitute for the journalist. ”
In its concluding remarks, the article points out “Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven to be a key tool in the modernization of journalism, allowing routine processes to be optimized, large volumes of data to be analyzed, and content to be personalized for audiences. These capabilities have contributed significantly to the operational efficiency and competitiveness of the media in a digitalized environment. However, AI does not replace the essence of the journalist as a narrator, analyst and interpreter.
Tasks that require critical analysis, interpretation of complex socio-cultural contexts, and ethical decision-making remain uniquely human, highlighting the importance of close collaboration between journalists and technologies. This synergistic model can redefine journalism as a more efficient and innovative practice, but without compromising its core values. In this sense, it is proposed that AI should be seen as a complementary tool that enhances journalistic work without replacing its human essence.”
The 25 March 2024 commentary “Can journalism survive AI?” run by Brookings states “Can journalism survive artificial intelligence (AI)? The answer will depend on whether journalism can adapt its business models to the AI era. If policymakers intervene to correct market imbalances, they must enforce intellectual property rights and ensure that journalism has a fighting chance in the era of generative AI. Over the past nearly two decades, as tech companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft grew to become some of the most valuable companies in the world, the United States lost a third of its newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalists. They cannot be replaced with AI.”
“Last year alone, the U.S. journalism industry slashed 2,700 jobs, and 2.5 newspapers closed each week on average. Despite a 43% rise in traffic to the top 46 news sites over the past decade, their revenues declined 56%. The dominance of less than a handful of privately owned, Silicon Valley-based tech corporations over digital advertising, publishing, audience, data, cloud, and search decimated the business models of journalism worldwide. And now AI is doing it again.”
Nevertheless, amid mounting journalism financial pressures and technological disruption, the irreplaceable role of human journalists becomes starkly evident again. The commentary highlights “But unlike journalists, AI can not go into the courtroom or interview a defendant behind bars, meet with the grieving parents of the latest school shooting victim, cultivate the trust of a whistleblower, or brave the frontlines of the latest war.
Furthermore, without access to human-created, high-quality content that is a relatively accurate portrayal of reality—and that journalism provides—the foundational models that fuel machine learning and generative AI applications of all types will malfunction, degrade, and potentially even collapse, putting the entire system at risk.”
Will AI really never substitute human journalists?
While the world aspires to AI with intelligence equaling or even surpassing humans, Life In Humanity asks: could these creations never match or replace the work of media organizations or journalists, even though current evidence strongly suggests they cannot? AI can generate content, analyze data, and assist journalists in unprecedented ways—but will it never fully replicate the judgment, ethical discernment, and contextual understanding that define responsible reporting practiced by human reporters?
The recent news that Albania has appointed Diella— an AI-powered minister, to oversee public procurement has captured global attention. Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama presents her as a symbol of efficiency, transparency, and anti-corruption, capable of processing millions of applications with speed and precision. Yet, even in this controlled environment, human oversight is indispensable—still, actual human ministers and policymakers in Albania are required to constantly guide and supervise AI operations. This striking example underscores a key point for journalism: while AI can optimize processes, generate content, and flag patterns, it cannot replicate the nuanced judgment, ethical discernment, and contextual understanding that define responsible reporting.
Talking about this unusual minister, as recently cited by the BBC, Dr Andi Hoxhaj of King’s College London, a specialist in the Western Balkans, corruption and the rule of law has said “AI is still a new tool – but if it is programmed correctly, when you put a bid in online, you can see clearly and more closely if a company meets the conditions and the criteria”.
As highlighted in SCIRP’s comprehensive review, and echoed by Frontiers and Brookings, the irreplaceable qualities of human journalists—interpretation, empathy, moral reasoning, and investigative rigor—cannot be substituted by even the most advanced AI. Just as Diella operates under supervision and clear rules, AI in newsrooms will serve to augment human effort rather than supplant it entirely, leaving the question of full replacement in the realm of speculation.
AI will certainly transform the newsroom, buttressing human effort rather than supplanting it entirely. Yet perhaps the future holds surprises still unseen. For now, in Life In Humanity’s view, the answer remains suspended between possibility and uncertainty, signifying that we can neither fully affirm nor definitively deny the prospect of AI one day substituting human journalists.
Recommended action
Building on these insights, the SCIRP paper’s abstract transitions from examining present challenges and opportunities to envisioning what lies ahead for the profession of journalism. “Looking forward, the article speculates on the future trajectory of AI in journalism, emphasizing the continuous essential role of human journalists and the potential technological advancements. This work underscores the necessity of a balanced approach in harnessing AI’s capabilities in journalism, ensuring that technological progress aligns with maintaining journalistic integrity and ethical standards.
As AI tools become more integrated into journalism, human journalists will need to adapt, learning to use these tools effectively while maintaining their critical and ethical perspectives. This includes overseeing AI systems to ensure they adhere to journalistic standards and intervening when necessary. The future of journalism in the age of AI is one of collaboration, where technology enhances the capabilities of journalists while the essential human qualities of the profession remain central.”
The paper highlights that these considerations extend beyond theoretical discussions into actionable strategies for shaping the future of journalism in the AI era. “The call for industry collaboration, as suggested by Li et al. in 2023b (Li et al., 2023b) , underscores the importance of partnerships between news organizations, technology companies, and academic institutions. These collaborations can lead to the exchange of ideas, the development of standardized practices, and establishment of ethical guidelines. Such collaborative efforts are critical for sustaining credible and responsible journalism in the age of AI.
The journey towards integrating AI in journalism involves a multifaceted approach. It demands the adaptation of existing ethical frameworks, the establishment of new standards tailored to journalism, enhancing AI literacy, maintaining editorial control, ensuring data governance, addressing biases, and fostering industry-wide collaboration. Through these measures, the journalism industry can effectively harness the benefits of AI while upholding its integrity and maintaining public trust.”
Amid these dual perspectives, the paper stresses that the true test lies in how news organizations navigate the balance between innovation and responsibility. “However, instances like the Microsoft AI news editors’ controversy point to AI-generated content’s complexities and potential pitfalls, especially regarding misinformation and the ethical boundaries of automated reporting.
Ethical considerations form a significant portion of the discussion, emphasizing the need for transparency in the use of AI, accountability for content generated by AI, addressing inherent biases in AI algorithms, and safeguarding the integrity of public discourse. These considerations underscore the ongoing debate about the role of AI in journalism and the importance of ethical guidelines and standards.”
In concluding its analysis, the paper turns its focus to the future of journalism in an AI-driven era. It frames this outlook not as a replacement of human journalists but as a redefinition of their role alongside emerging technologies, while recommending complementarity. “Looking towards the future, the document posits that advancements in AI technology will continue to revolutionize journalism. However, it strongly argues that the role of human journalists remains irreplaceable, particularly in tasks that require nuanced interpretation, narrative skills, ethical decision-making, and in-depth investigative journalism. The conclusion advocates for a symbiotic relationship between AI and human journalists, where AI’s efficiency and data processing capabilities complement human reporters’ critical thinking and ethical judgment.
This approach, it is argued, is essential to maintain the credibility, reliability, and ethical standards of journalism in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world. Thus, the document concludes with a call for a balanced and thoughtful integration of AI in journalism, ensuring that technological advancements enhance rather than undermine the fundamental values of the profession.”