Quartz experiments with AI, and readers have thoughts

Author

Matt V
January 29, 2025

QUARTZ AI

Quartz, a global business news outlet, has started using AI to create articles under the name “Quartz Intelligence Newsroom.”

Initially limited to earnings reports, the AI now writes short articles based on reports from platforms like CNN and The Associated Press, like this piece on the recent aircraft crash in South Korea.

These articles, about 400 words long, don’t include direct quotes and only list sources at the top.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Quartz’s AI writes short articles but has faced criticism for unclear and inaccurate content.

  • The AI experiment is meant to give journalists more time for in-depth stories.

  • Other media outlets using AI have faced similar challenges.

Sources? At the top, apparently

G/O Media, Quartz’s parent company, says the AI newsroom is an experiment to allow journalists to focus on longer stories.

But some articles have raised concerns about accuracy. For instance, a Quartz AI article summarising a TechCrunch guide on deleting social media accounts was criticized for unclear instructions.

Other AI-generated headlines have also been called out for poor wording.

Quartz isn’t alone in using AI. Outlets like CNET and Sports Illustrated have also used AI, sometimes publishing content with errors.

Despite these issues, G/O Media claims readers are engaging well with AI articles and that the company remains financially strong.

They have also been hiring more journalists, despite earlier layoffs.

It’s like a robot intern or something.