May 15, 2024
OpenAI Launches Free, Faster Version of ChatGPT
The world’s most popular AI chatbot is getting an upgrade. This week, OpenAI launched GPT-4o, a new, free version of ChatGPT that provides a more conversational user interface and enhanced features like video and real-time speech interaction. The model introduces a voice assistant with the ability to detect emotions, analyze facial expressions, and adjust its tone, which many have pointed out is reminiscent of AI depicted in the 2013 film “Her.”
As OpenAI pushes forward, other tech companies are working to catch up. At its annual developer conference, Google introduced new AI models capable of summarizing conversations, captioning multimedia, and extracting data. PR pros navigating new generative AI models can adopt AI for tasks like drafting and research while adhering to ethical practices such as fact-checking and protecting privacy.
Local News Decline Expands to Television Broadcast
The significant decline of local news is no longer limited to print. Broadcast giant Sinclair is looking to sell more than 30% of its stations across the U.S.—the company currently owns or operates nearly 200 television stations in more than 85 markets. According to new Pew research, Americans still value local news outlets, though engagement with local journalism has decreased as audiences shift to digital outlets.
As news outlets vanish, many are pondering the long-term implications for democracy. The closure of eight Minnesota community newspapers highlights consequences of corporate ownership and the lack of public outrage. Philanthropic partners and nonprofit organizations are aiming to fill the gap. The Institute for Nonprofit News recently helped 300 local nonprofit newsrooms raise $47 million by matching funds and providing fundraising to address the local journalism crisis.
Labor Organizing Accelerates Across Media Industry
Media workers are moving to organize amid big shifts in corporate restructuring and audience consumption. Staffers at The Athletic are actively discussing forming a union due to increasing uncertainties as the site integrates further with its parent company, The New York Times. Unionized journalists at The New York Times’ Wirecutter have unanimously approved a new three-year contract, which includes wage increases and protections for remote workers.
Labor changes are coinciding with the emergence of AI and the easing of noncompete restrictions. The local newsroom union at the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, NY, is pushing back against Gannett’s proposed contract changes that call for a broader use of AI for news content generation. The FTC’s recent ban on noncompetes could significantly benefit TV news employees by granting them more job flexibility and opportunities, ending practices that restricted career mobility.
Sequence Summaries: Chatbot Changes, Broadcast Breakdown, and Media Mobilization
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