Artificial intelligence models face difficulties in distinguishing opinion from reality and understanding the chronological order of events. These challenges explain why, although AI can contribute to accurate news reporting, its news summaries often contain serious errors. Catherine Sotirakou, visiting professor at the Department of Communication and Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and director of the IQ Media Hub, revealed that 51% of the answers generated by AI in journalism contained errors. She shared these findings during a Conference on information and misinformation in the age of AI, co-organized by the Region of Central Macedonia, through the Deputy Regional Administration for Digital Governance, the Journalists’ Union of Macedonia and Thrace, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
“We are still far from the point where AI, even if we train it, will provide us with something completely accurate,” Sotirakou stated. She emphasized that while AI can be helpful, it can also be harmful. She noted that journalists often resist new technologies at first but eventually adapt and integrate them into their workflow, predicting that the same will happen in the case of AI. In this context, she stressed the importance of human oversight in verifying information and recognized the role of journalists as key players in monitoring algorithms to ensure that the conclusions drawn from AI-generated data are aligned with reality.
The importance of regulation
Aimilios Perdikaris, journalist and president of the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, partner in the ANALYSIS project, highlighted the significance of regulation in the use of technology and AI in journalism. “I truly believe in the unique role of news agencies in informing the public. I strongly support regulation. We need rules, but there is a fine line between setting rules and exerting control,” Perdikaris said. In this context, he described the AI ethics code established by the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions (POESY) as an important step forward at a collective level.
On the other hand, he pointed out that “self-regulation should begin with journalists and then extend to workplaces.” He also underlined the need to protect the integrity of journalism by not fearing technology but using it to improve efficiency rather than replace human journalists.
Aimilios Perdikaris also discussed Athens-Macedonian News Agency’s role as a primary source of information for both the public and other media outlets. He underscored the agency’s commitment to truth, noting that it prioritizes fact-checking over speed when reporting news. When asked whether AI will eventually replace journalists, he expressed optimism that this will not happen, asserting that “journalism, as a profession, cannot be replaced for various reasons.” He also pointed out that reality is different from the data that feed AI algorithms and emphasized that data is evolving rapidly and that it is our responsibility to adapt and harness AI as a helpful tool.
Misinformation as a key concern
Lazaros Theodorakidis, a journalist from voria.gr, stated that “in newsrooms, misinformation is the key issue for all of us in journalism; it is what concerns us the most, what we see, and what we report.” He acknowledged that major international media organizations have already integrated AI applications into their operations at various levels. However, he noted that in their newsroom, voria.gr, AI is currently used primarily for faster research, access to statistical and financial data, and as a foundation for reporting. In any case, he pointed out that “the newsroom is a field for interaction, debate, and in-depth discussion on any interesting topic” and he added that “the use of AI will give more time to investigative journalism.”
Sofia Christoforidou, a journalist from emakedonia.gr, likened AI to a “pressure cooker,” where data is processed rapidly but may eventually “explode.” She also acknowledged AI’s usefulness in handling tedious journalistic tasks but also noted that older journalists may feel anxious; however, they try to keep their open mind, viewing AI as a tool that can help journalists better understand their audience’s preferences and produce more targeted content.”
AI ethics code
Sotiris Triantafyllou, president of Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions, referred to the development of an AI ethics code. Deputy Regional Minister for Digital Governance, Nikolaos Tzollas, emphasized that while AI is developing rapidly, regulatory frameworks are lagging behind.
Yiannis Voitsidis, president of the Journalists’ Union of Macedonia and Thrace, pointed out that in an era of rapid technological advancement, journalism finds itself in uncharted territory, which is naturally concerning. However, he warned not to be afraid, reminding that this is not the first time journalism has faced a technology-driven challenge.
Finally, Andreas Veglis, professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, noted that the department is actively engaged in AI-related research, participates in the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory, and coordinates the Shazaam project, which focuses on misinformation among Generation Z.
