- Also, artificial intelligence will take over the work of proofreaders and photo editors.
- Hundreds of media workers to be laid off
The largest German publication Bild will replace part of the editors with artificial intelligence (AI). About it writes The Guardian, citing a letter from the publisher to employees. As a result, more than a hundred media workers will be laid off. These are not only editors, but also proofreaders, photo processing specialists and print production operators.
“Unfortunately, the newspaper will part ways with colleagues who have tasks that in the digital world are performed by artificial intelligence and / or automated processes” — stated in the appeal.
This is part of Bild’s cost cutting program. They want to reduce costs by 100 million euros. In addition to reducing the editorial staff, the media will also change the structure of the regional newspaper business. In total, this will lead to hundreds of layoffs.
Matthias Depfner, CEO of Axel Springer Verlag (publisher of Bild), became the main ideologist of the changes. In February, he stated that the media would become “an all-digital media company.” The businessman believes that AI technologies “will make independent journalism better, or replace it.” According to Depfner, artificial intelligence is better at finding information.
Experts recently calculated that in 22 years, AI will be doing 50% of work tasks. This will give an annual economic growth of $2.6 trillion. However, many people will have to change their field of activity or master new competencies.