AI and news content: promises, pitfalls, and what comes next
Jinfo Blog

By Stephen Phillips

Abstract

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AI-powered news tools are on the rise, but, for many information managers, the jury is still out.

The new Jinfo report "How are information managers and vendors adapting to the convergence of news and AI?" explores how AI is reshaping the delivery and consumption of news, and what that means for information professionals.

Drawing on discussions from the recent Jinfo Community session "News and AI - why pay?", the report offers a grounded, practical view of both the potential and the complexity of integrating AI-driven summarisation and aggregation tools into news services.

Here are some of the themes that emerged:

1. Adoption is cautious, not careless
   
   
Despite the proliferation of AI-driven tools like Factiva Smart Summary, Nexis+ AI and EMIS Next, widespread adoption has not yet materialised.

Concerns around trust, accuracy, and usability continue to hold information managers back. In some cases, AI outputs still require such close scrutiny that any supposed time-savings are erased.

Where these tools can be helpful is in surfacing additional content or providing a starting point - but they are not ready to replace well-curated research workflows.


2. Transparency and source control still lacking
   
   Another area of concern is the opacity of AI-generated summaries.
   
   Information professionals are rightly wary of tools that do not clearly state which sources are used, or that vary their outputs depending on when or where a query is run.
   
   Consistency is a cornerstone of credible information delivery.
   
   
3. Paid platforms vs free tools: not a simple trade-off
   
   The report examines the growing comparison between traditional premium news services and free AI-powered alternatives such as ChatGPT and Perplexity AI.
   
   Each has its strengths: free tools offer speed and simplicity, while paid services provide structured, licensed access to authoritative sources.
   
   However, free tools often lack transparency, are prone to inconsistency, and may summarise content without appropriate licensing.
   
   Premium services, on the other hand, can be perceived as costly and less flexible, but offer reliability, customisation, and appropriately licensed access to critical sources.
   
   The key takeaway? AI tools may complement premium services, but they do not yet replace them, especially for mission-critical information needs.
   
   

Actions for information managers

The Jinfo report outlines several practical actions.

For example, before committing to any new tool, run pilot projects, assess how well the tool integrates into existing workflows, and determine whether it genuinely reduces workload or merely reshuffles it.

There’s also a strong call for vendors to improve source transparency, data integration, and licensing. Information managers are encouraged to advocate for these improvements, while also adapting their own best practices to get the most out of what AI can offer.

Conclusion - a strategic approach is essential

Ultimately, the Jinfo report reinforces a theme that runs through so many current conversations about AI: tools alone are not enough. Success lies in the systems, people and governance structures around them.

AI may bring some efficiencies, but only when deployed with care.

Information managers are ideally placed to evaluate these tools, define how they should be used, and safeguard the quality and reliability of news services across the organisation.

Read the full report for all the key insights, practical recommendations and tool comparisons discussed in the session:

• "How are information managers and vendors adapting to the convergence of news and AI?"

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