TOKYO -- As an economic media brand, Nikkei Inc. attaches great importance to reporting news accurately and quickly, along with quality investigative journalism and fair, unbiased commentary and analysis.
Our main purpose is to help readers make decisions and get new perspectives through articles and content.
The following is our view on how to face up to the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence, or AI.
Generative AI -- including both conversational AI, which can answer questions in natural language, and image generative AI, which produces pictures -- is an important innovation that could change society.
On the other hand, depending on how it is used, this technology could also come with the risk of undermining the accuracy and fairness that media should strive to maintain.
Limited use
Generative AI can deliberately create false articles and images. It also sometimes unintentionally incorporates false information.
Although this innovative technology is helping to encourage the evolution of the media, there is also a danger it could undermine reader confidence.
Nikkei wants to be open to new technologies and eager to adopt them so it can continue to be a pioneer in digital journalism in Japan.
It has a policy of using AI in a limited way, only when it contributes to responsible journalism.
Nikkei has set rules on the use of AI that specifically cover areas such as utilizing the technology to assist in editorial work, including data extraction from credible open information, searching text and images, and translating text.
Nikkei is already offering summaries of corporate financial results using AI through its online edition. These texts are written using prescribed expressions and do not analyze or forecast company earnings.
Thorough transparency
Text and images created by AI will not be published in their original form.
When AI technology is used, staff must first get permission and all output must be verified, recorded and corrected where necessary. It is also prohibited for staff to enter into AI systems any confidential information obtained through news gathering or other tasks.
If AI is used in reporting, that will be made clear to readers. The same rule applies to situations where AI is used in programming assistance and technology research.
Always maintaining transparency, being wary of risks from AI and recording and publishing progress are principles shared by all our editorial staff. Our rules will also be reviewed as AI technology advances.
Media organizations also have legal rights, including copyright on articles, photos and images. We will not allow copyrighted items to be used by AI without permission.
Taking charge of news gathering on the ground, analysis based on accumulated experience and reporting accurate information to readers are things that need to be driven by humans. As a media organization that "thinks and reports," Nikkei will continue to pursue responsible journalism.
