Business Insider’s recent move to introduce an AI-generated byline has prompted concern and pushback from its newsroom staff. Lily Oberstein, Business Insider’s unit chair and insights and analytics editor, spoke about the reaction among journalists following the announcement.
Oberstein explained that she learned of the new AI byline while attending a newsroom product and tech conference. She noted that discussions at the event focused on responsible uses for artificial intelligence in newsrooms. According to Oberstein, when companies identify their problems first before considering if AI is a suitable solution, they can find meaningful opportunities for technology integration.
However, Oberstein said there is growing unease within Business Insider’s newsroom over how Axel Springer, the company’s parent organization, is deploying AI tools. The unionized journalists quickly used their right to request information from management about the decision. This led to a wave of questions sent across the newsroom as staff demanded more clarity on how AI would be used.
“Sources and readers have already expressed concerns about Business Insider’s vague AI policy and this AI author page continues to amplify these concerns,” Oberstein said. “We are deeply worried about the effects that this move-fast-and-break-things approach to AI will have on both our newsroom’s reputation as well as our member’s job security.”
In response to management’s actions, members shared graphics on social media platforms, updated their Slack profiles, and issued a statement criticizing what they see as an attempt by leadership to undermine journalists’ authority over editorial content.
Oberstein added: “Readers want to subscribe to quality journalism coming from our talented, human journalists.”
This week, Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, visited Business Insider’s newsroom for a discussion about artificial intelligence. Staff received short notice of his visit but organized quickly in response. Every seat in the meeting featured a flyer stating “No Slop in Our Shop,” created by the Insider Union.
During his remarks, Döpfner addressed job security directly: “Does it replace jobs here and there? The honest answer is, yes, no doubt about it,” he said.
Oberstein questioned Döpfner about plans for protecting both the newsroom’s reputation and employees’ job security amid increased use of AI-generated content: “We’re concerned about pushing AI-generated content on our site – what is your plan for protecting our newsroom’s reputation and our job security?”
Journalists present at the meeting stood together in solidarity during these exchanges.
A joint statement released by staff from POLITICO, Business Insider and Business Insider UK clarified their position: “Our sites and channels should showcase the original work that we humans produce, not the bland words or images that anyone with a ChatGPT account could churn out with ease.”
The debate comes amid ongoing arbitration at POLITICO after an incident involving misinformation spread by an internal AI tool deployed by management two years ago. At the same time, Axel Springer has yet to provide details regarding its confidential agreement with OpenAI—the developer behind ChatGPT—signed two years prior.
Concerns remain high among journalists who argue that unclear corporate policies around artificial intelligence risk eroding trust in journalism while making reporters’ jobs harder.
Robots cannot replace reporters.
