Tue Oct 01 05:15:00 UTC 2024: ## AI “Resurrects” Dead Art Critic, Sparking Concerns About Future of Journalism
The London Evening Standard has ignited controversy by “commissioning” an AI-powered version of their late art critic, Brian Sewell, to review a Van Gogh exhibition. Sewell, who passed away in 2015, was unavailable to pen the review himself. This move has drawn criticism from journalists and commentators, who see it as a worrying sign of the future of media, where AI could potentially replace human journalists and writers.
The AI-generated review, filled with phrases like “insipid exercise in sentimental hagiography” and “shallow indulgence,” has been widely dismissed as lacking any genuine insight or personal opinion, as it was written without any actual experience of the exhibition. Critics point out that the AI simply regurgitated pre-programmed phrases, lacking the nuance and understanding that human writers bring to their work.
The move has also drawn parallels to the increasing use of AI in other industries, such as film and television, where actors fear being replaced by digital replicas. The use of deceased personalities in AI-generated content raises ethical questions about appropriation and the potential for misrepresentation.
While the London Evening Standard claims Sewell’s estate is “delighted” with the AI revival, many see it as an insult to the late critic’s legacy, as well as a cheap attempt to attract attention and save money by replacing human writers with AI-generated content.
The incident has ignited a wider conversation about the future of journalism and the potential dangers of relying on AI for content creation. Concerns include the loss of human voice and the potential for misrepresentation, manipulation, and the spread of misinformation through algorithms.
The media’s embrace of AI, while potentially offering efficiencies, raises questions about the value of genuine human insight and the future of journalism as a profession.
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