Anchor uncovers misinformation in breaking news broadcast

By Anna Gasowski

** This story was written with the help of Chat GPT to show how AI will affect the future of journalism.

The morning alarm blared, shattering the quiet of Grace Rodgers’ sleek, AI-designed apartment. As a top news anchor in New York City in 2045, her days were thoroughly planned for efficiency. She was ready to tackle her first task: reviewing the overnight news feed with her assistant through ChatGPT.

Today’s headline was explosive. A brewing crisis in the Middle East had the world on edge. As Grace skimmed the AI’s summary, she caught an odd inconsistency. The report suggested that a powerful international figure in Israel had taken a firm stance in support of one side. This was something wildly out of character for this leader. This didn’t sit right with Grace, and concern began to form. 

She flagged the anomaly for a deeper check, and the AI ran further fact checking. But no matter how she adjusted the parameters, the odd detail kept reappearing. Grace knew the importance of the sanity checks journalists should use to evaluate AI results like consistency and replicability.

As she prepped for her live broadcast, Grace’s AI-assisted teleprompter flickered with constant updates. Time was running out, and her instincts told her something was wrong. Finally, she called her team of AI researchers. Within minutes, they confirmed her worst fear: the source of the report was a deepfake.

With seconds to spare, Grace discarded the original script and made a decision to address the issue on-air. She opened the broadcast by explaining that the story had in fact been a deepfake. She acknowledged that her team would further research the story before spreading any false information to the public. She had to acknowledge the misinformation created by AI. 

The move was risky. Grace risked sowing doubt in viewers’ minds about the news itself by recognizing the instability of AI. But she knew that disclosure with the audience about the use of AI was more important. 

During a follow-up press conference, she fielded tough questions from journalists. Some questioned her team’s ability to verify information, while others praised her transparency. Grace’s responses were clear and confident, acknowledging the challenges of AI but emphasizing the importance of building trust.

Later, as she met with her researchers to discuss the day’s crisis, they dove into new ways to counter deepfakes. They also discussed the ethical dilemmas AI created in journalism. The episode left her shaken. It reminded her that even with new technology, the truth could be fragile.

Grace returned to her apartment, feeling the weight of her responsibility. She was not only a news anchor but a guardian of truth in an age where AI could both reveal and distort reality. Lying awake, she resolved to keep pushing for transparency, knowing that in this world shaped by AI, it would be an ongoing battle.