Journos at The Guardian went on strike and were almost immediately replaced with AI, despite the paper saying it wouldn't do that to them. OOPS.
The Guardian's use of AI during a 2025 journalist strike has sparked significant controversy, highlighting the broader debate on AI's role in journalism. Accusations arose when AI was used to generate headlines amidst the strike against the sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media, leading to criticism from the NUJ for undermining the strike action.
This incident, coupled with other instances like Microsoft's AI-generated poll next to Guardian content, raised ethical concerns about AI's impact on journalistic integrity and reputation. The Guardian has set principles for AI use, emphasizing human oversight, but the practical application during the strike drew internal and public backlash, reflecting industry-wide discussions on AI's implications for job security, content quality, and ethical journalism.