Politico’s union is preparing for a legal battle over AI
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Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI, Kate Knibbs, Wired
A dispute between Politico management and its union could set a precedent for how journalists use AI in newsrooms.
Last year, Politico started using AI tools to generate news summaries. This year, in partnership with Y Combinator-backed startup Capitol AI, it enabled Policy Intelligent Assistance for paying subscribers.
The union says this AI rollout violates their contract and claims no notice was given. Here’s PEN union chair Ariel Wittenberg, quoted in Wired:
The company is required to give us 60 days notice of any use of new technology that will materially and substantively impact bargaining unit job duties.
And here’s Arianna Skibell, the union’s vice chair for contract enforcement:
Politico’s contract stipulates that the publication needs to use AI in a manner that follows the company’s standards of journalistic ethics.
We're not against AI, but it should be held to the same ethical and style standards as our political journalists.
Watch this space. Full story here.