The New York Times is launching an internal artificial intelligence initiative that includes a new summarization tool called Echo and guidelines for AI use in the newsroom. According to reporting by Max Tani for Semafor, the media company is opening up AI training to its staff and approving several AI tools for editorial and product teams. Echo, developed in-house, will help journalists condense Times articles, briefings, and interactive content.
The approved AI tools include GitHub Copilot, Google’s Vertex AI, and select OpenAI APIs. Journalists can use these technologies for tasks like generating SEO headlines, creating social media copy, and brainstorming interview questions. The Times has established clear boundaries, prohibiting the use of AI for drafting articles or creating machine-generated images without proper labeling.
The initiative comes while the Times is involved in a legal dispute with OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement. Despite this conflict, the company views AI as a valuable tool for enhancing journalistic capabilities and making content more accessible through features like voiced articles and translations.
Some staff members have expressed concerns about potential drawbacks, including the risk of generating inaccurate information or encouraging less creative work. The Times emphasizes that AI should serve as a tool to support journalism rather than replace human judgment.