Efficiency vs. Humanity: The AI Journalism Dilemma

This past September, we wrote that entry-level positions in STEM fields were threatened by AI, and that, therefore, it was critical to develop proficient non-vocational skills that “AI isn’t able to replicate” to a full extent. We mentioned communication, creativity, global and cultural awareness, ethical decision-making, and emotional intelligence as examples of such skills, and underscored the importance of the liberal arts in a world increasingly influenced by AI. These abilities are especially prevalent in those with careers in the humanities, such as writers, artists, teachers, journalists, lawyers, historians, etc. 

Currently, AI’s role in journalism is mostly limited to summarizing reports, generating news snippets, and conducting basic data analysis. Yet, some companies have gone one step further, with Business Insider attempting to create an AI reporter that can draft news stories to bring readers “more information, more quickly,” for instance. This is a significant turn of events that challenges our argument that non-vocational skills are what would make individuals in the workforce valuable against AI. When an industry so fundamentally based on such skills begins embracing AI to the point of entirely replacing an employee, it forces us to reconsider what exactly will secure our place in an AI-driven workforce if it's not necessarily these “soft skills” anymore.

Journalists have already spoken up about the detriments of relying on AI in journalism: one of the unique and fundamental characteristics of news consumed in the US is the combination of various voices that broaden readers’ perspectives. If the public bases its opinions on outputs from a single generative AI model trained on biased data that already exists in the media, existing biases are not only reproduced but potentially amplified. Additionally, if all or most media is written by AI, it would become increasingly difficult to distinguish misinformation or hallucinations from facts. 

Yet, it is important to consider the role of the media companies, whose aim is to provide news to the public as efficiently and accurately as possible. AI has the potential to support this goal with its efficiency in collecting and processing information into structured datasets ready to be transformed into news reports within seconds. Additionally, models could be trained to reduce politicization or polarization, and could minimize misinformation if incorporated safely. It is also important to note that news sources also need to remain competitive in their industry. Recently, it has become harder to keep news sources profitable, with generative AI being one of the causes of decreasing online search traffic. This is shown by the Washington Post’s recent lay-offs of one-third of its employees, because of this increasingly “crowded, competitive and complicated media landscape.”  Finding more ways to incorporate AI and harness its efficiency for journalism and other media companies would be a more cost-effective way to try to stay afloat. 

Yet, the implications of this shift extend beyond journalism and the workforce. Even relationships of love and friendship – often seen as the pillar of humanity – are being redefined, as some individuals explore such connections with AI chatbots. As we continue to see AI taking over aspects of our societies that we have always seen as inherently human, it pushes us to consider which boundaries will be challenged next, and also to contemplate the extent to which we are willing to trade the humanity in our societies for profit or efficiency. Our society has been built with the goal of maximizing such productivity, and as AI has transformed the workforce with its incredible speed and effectiveness, we may need to shift its goals to preserve humanity. If AI makes industries more profitable while leaving endless people without jobs or opportunities, then what truly is the value of the efficiency and prosperity AI creates?

Anna Bulto '26 and Skylar Li '26

Works Cited

Bultó, Anna, and Skylar Li. “The Human in Humanities: Redefining the Meaning of Education in a World of Artificial Intelligence.” The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School, September 2025, https://www.ethicsatkentplace.org/about-ethics/ethics-institute-blog/individual-blog-page/~board/blog-posts/post/the-human-in-humanities-redefining-the-meaning-of-education-in-a-world-of-artificial-intelligence. Accessed 26 February 2026.

Schleuss, Jon. “Business Insider attempts AI reporter, human journalists push back.” The NewsGuild, 7 November 2025, https://newsguild.org/business-insiders-ai-byline/. Accessed 26 February 2026.

Wemple, Erik. “Washington Post Cuts More Than 300 Jobs - The New York Times.” NYTimes.com, 4 February 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/business/media/washington-post-layoffs.html. Accessed 26 February 2026.