Writers Guild of America East Demands Halt to AI-Generated Articles on G/O Media Sites

The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) has issued a statement demanding an immediate end to the use of AI-generated articles on G/O Media sites. The union represents approximately 100 staffers at the media company, which includes A.V. Club, Deadspin, Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Jezebel, Kotaku, The Onion, Quartz, The Root and The Takeout.

In their statement, the WGAE criticized the use of AI-generated journalism, calling it an "oxymoron." Last week, G/O Media published AI-generated articles on several unionized properties as tests. The publishing industry is clearly in the “test and learn” phase of using AI in content creation. The articles were marred by errors and demonstrated the point that AI alone is not the best approach.

The decision by G/O Media management to employ AI technology, despite the unions' objections, received widespread negative media coverage. The WGAE emphasized that the negative impact of AI-generated articles goes beyond their members in online media and extends to broadcast newsrooms and their colleagues in the film, television, and streaming sectors.

The union views AI-generated journalism as an existential threat to the profession and urges readers not to click on these stories. The WGAE's demand for bargaining on this issue with G/O Media has thus far gone unanswered as their approach seems to be all or nothing.

The fight against AI-generated articles is part of a larger struggle occurring in the union, as colleagues in broadcast newsrooms and the film, television, and streaming industry confront similar challenges, including the ongoing strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

The WGAE's call for an end to AI-generated articles on G/O Media sites highlights a lack of overall understanding that AI can support the co-creation of journalistic content. It does not replace the human writer but supports and can helps them create more impactful content when prompted correctly. The union unnecessarily urges readers to refrain from clicking on these AI-only articles. No need to issue such a boycott as it is clear that these articles are not to the level of the human writers. Let people see the importance of the human input and direction. When AI is used by a quality journalist, it can produce easily recognized high-quality content. Co-creation is the key.