November 22, 2023
Sam Altman Reinstated as OpenAI CEO
The AI industry is in upheaval after significant leadership shakeups. OpenAI—the behemoth behind ChatGPT—dismissed its CEO Sam Altman in a move that shocked investors. OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft, quickly hired Altman and OpenAI Co-Founder Greg Brockman to lead a new advanced AI research team. Days after his firing, and following intense backlash from stakeholders, Altman agreed to re-join OpenAI with a new board of directors.
The use of AI in advertising and public relations is accelerating amid ethical concerns. Generative AI has already been used for political ads, even as more social media companies are requiring disclosure of the emerging technology. To help communicators better leverage AI, the Public Relations Society of America has released guidelines around the ethical use of AI in PR.
Solutions Journalism Elevates Interest in Climate News
New research is shedding light on people’s views and consumption of news. Fewer Americans believe that science has a positive effect on society, and public trust of scientists has dropped significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. A global study conducted by the Reuters Institute and Oxford University suggest people are more likely to engage in climate change news that incorporates solutions in coverage.
As more Americans get their news from social media, insights are emerging about platform preferences. According to the Pew Research Center, 30% percent of Americans regularly consume news on Facebook, followed by YouTube (26%) and Instagram (16%). The number of U.S. adults who regularly get news from TikTok has more than quadrupled from 3% in 2020 to 16% in 2023.
More Communities Lack Local News
Across the U.S., communities are facing a dearth of local news outlets. A new report from the Medill School of Journalism revealed that more than 130 newspapers closed in 2023—a rate of 2.5 per week. More than 200 counties in the U.S. are ‘news deserts’—areas that lack a single local newspaper. In Seattle, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will end its Univision affiliation, which provided the region’s only locally produced Spanish-language TV newscast.
Despite troubling trends for local news, there are some signs of revival. Some larger state newspapers, such as South Carolina’s The Post and Courier, are helping to fund smaller state newspapers. More newspapers are embracing nonprofit models as philanthropic efforts to fund local news have gained momentum. In Washington state, a new state-funded initiative will connect early-career reporters with news outlets to expand coverage.
Sequence Summaries: AI Upheaval, Public Polling, and News Scarcity
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