USA Today's Publisher Takes Action to Fix AI Reporter’s Errors in Sports Posts

A week after its controversial use of AI to generate high school sports reports, Gannett, a leading publisher, has begun the painstaking process of reviewing all AI-generated articles. Did we not learn from CNET’s earlier AI missteps?

Gannett publishes several prominent outlets, including USA Today, The Arizona Republic, and The Detroit Free Press. The company introduced "Lede AI" to automate the mundane task of summarizing local high school sports scores—a task that proved to be beyond the AI’s capabilities. One automated report stated: “The Hardin County Tigers defeated the Memphis Business Execs 48-12 in a Tennessee high school football game on Friday. Hardin County scored early and often to roll over Memphis Business 48-12 in a Tennessee high school football matchup.”

High school sports reporting is distinct from covering collegiate or professional events, emphasizing community connection. An anonymous Gannett sports writer shared, “High school reporting often goes unappreciated, but it's extremely important. You're covering a community.” They explained that the audience, while smaller, is deeply invested—comprising family members and friends who cherish these stories as keepsakes of their children’s high school careers.

In response to backlash, Gannett has opted to pause its AI initiatives, though it did not completely rule out its future use. The company is currently ensuring the accuracy of all AI-generated content, with the revised report now simply stating: “The Hardin County Tigers defeated the Memphis Business Execs 48-12 in a Tennessee high school football game on Friday.”

Gannett's experimentation with AI reflects a broader trend in the media industry. Other organizations, like Buzzfeed and Google, are pivoting towards AI-generated content, while even the Associated Press is adapting its strategies to incorporate this new technology.