Posted on 11/04/2023 1:50:00 PM PDT by algore
False claims that President Joe Biden fell asleep during a moment of silence for victims of the Maui wildfire. A conspiracy theory that the latest surge in Covid-19 cases is being orchestrated by the Democratic Party ahead of the election. An obituary for a late NBA player that described him as “useless.”
These false and bizarre stories aren’t showing up on some far-flung corner of the internet — they’re being published by Microsoft. The company’s homepage, also known as MSN.com and Microsoft Start, remains one of the world’s most trafficked websites and a place where millions of Americans get their news every day.
But Microsoft’s decision to increasingly rely on the use of automation and artificial intelligence over human editors to curate its homepage appears to be behind the site’s recent amplification of false and bizarre stories, people familiar with how the site works told CNN.
The site, which comes pre-loaded as the default start page on devices running Microsoft software, including on Microsoft’s latest “Edge” browser, the successor of the company’s Internet Explorer browser, employed more than 800 editors in 2018 to help select and curate news stories shown to millions of readers around the world.
But in recent years Microsoft has laid off editors, some of whom were told they were being replaced by “automation,” what they understand to be AI.
Microsoft’s early investment in OpenAI —the creators of the buzzy ChatGPT app — has put it at the forefront of the promising and potentially perilous AI revolution even as the tech giant’s president has publicly lectured on the responsible use of the technology.
But the apparent role of AI in Microsoft’s recent amplification of bogus stories raises questions about the company’s public adoption of the nascent technology and for the journalism industry as a whole.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I think Fusion cause AI consumes a lot of energy.
I have visited the MSNBC Building at msft bldg 18 iirc.
I laughed because the building is a V shape with a right wing, and a left wing.
MSNBC was in the right wing with it's own private elevator, and the people in there thought they had the entire floor of the right wing, totally unaware that they were in their own walled off area in the middle with no windows.
According to Bill Gates, the age of AI has begun. Is this what you want? I don’t.
AOL Commie News makes The Hill look conservative. I’ll bet CNN adores them, AI or not.
There used to be a job called an "Editor"...
I’m pretty sure MSNBC has two left wings. This is probably what confuses its AI.
Hah! I guess not any more!
It’s CNN, so you can’t assume the stories are false as CNN claims. AI might be correct, but the Slow Joe butt kissers at CNN may disagree and label the story as false.
CNN griping about making a mess of the news. Hilarious
It’s time for AI to write the obituary of CNN.
In their case, “useless” would be appropriate.
This is quite funny since AI in its fundamental form is logically correct.
The need to taint AI will no doubt be an eventuality so we can all once again realize Lizzo’s beauty… lol
Good point. Any of the three stories cited in the opening paragraph might well be true.
I’m pretty sure MSNBC has two left wings.And six fingers.
lol. Yes. On mine the other day, I saw an article saying Sam Bankman Fried had been convicted and sentenced to probation.
May or may not have been true on this occasion -- but it is hardly bizarre.
If it works as well as his spell check most of us will be in the hospital, in prison or dead by the 2020 election.
I think you mean 2024.
Good Catch!
I guess I’m still fighting old battles!
Although 2020 would certainly apply to the early departure for many acquaintances of the Clintons.
By ChatGPT...
In Memoriam: CNN - 1980-2023
It is with a heavy heart, and a hearty chuckle, that we bid farewell to a dear friend: Cable News Network, better known to its friends (and enemies) as CNN. Born in the tumultuous year of 1980, CNN lived a long and fruitful life, tirelessly pioneering the art of 24-hour news coverage. But alas, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And boy, was CNN a “good thing” for the world of journalism!
CNN’s early years were marked by an unquenchable thirst for breaking news. No disaster, political scandal, or minor fender bender was too insignificant to be blown up into a headline-grabbing spectacle. It’s not that CNN liked bad news, but it did seem to have a special knack for finding it in every nook and cranny of the world. After all, who could forget the gripping coverage of a cat stuck in a tree, or the riveting analysis of an airport baggage carousel that just kept on spinning?
Over the years, CNN became a household name, a steady source of entertainment in the guise of journalism. With a knack for sensationalism that would make even the most avid tabloid reader blush, CNN brought us such timeless classics as “Balloon Boy” and “Missing Plane Madness.” Its reporters would chase ambulances with the zeal of a dog after a tennis ball, and they would often race to be the first to tell us what we already knew.
One of CNN’s most endearing qualities was its unshakable commitment to balance and impartiality. When it came to presenting both sides of a story, CNN was second to none. Whether it was interviewing experts on climate change and then turning to a climate change denier for “balance,” or dedicating equal airtime to a renowned scientist and a man who believed the Earth was flat, CNN never failed to give everyone their moment in the spotlight. It was a true champion of democracy, ensuring that the truth was always somewhere in the middle.
CNN also had a remarkable talent for turning everything into a breaking news event. From the royal wedding of a minor European prince to the riveting escapades of a celebrity’s lost dog, CNN could make you feel like you were on the front lines of history, even when you were just watching a live stream of someone’s avocado toast being prepared.
CNN’s demise, however, was a slow and painful one. As the world changed and digital media took over, CNN struggled to adapt. Its once-mighty ratings fell, and it found itself in a constant battle with the internet, where “fake news” spread like wildfire. In a world where social media influencers could become overnight experts on any topic, CNN’s years of journalistic experience suddenly seemed less important.
In its final years, CNN found solace in bringing us breaking news from the same locations, with the same talking heads, and the same tired format. Even though it may have lost some of its luster, CNN never gave up on its mission to be the first to tell us what was happening, even if it was what was trending on Twitter.
So, as we bid farewell to CNN, let us remember the good times, the wild chases of windblown umbrellas, and the countless hours of expert analysis on things that really didn’t matter all that much. CNN, you may have had your quirks, but you also had a special place in our hearts. You will be missed, and your legacy will live on in the annals of satire and media history. Goodnight, sweet prince of sensationalism, and may you rest in breaking news heaven.
That’s awesome! And useless!
Thanks!
“False claims that President Joe Biden fell asleep during a moment of silence for victims of the Maui wildfire. A conspiracy theory that the latest surge in Covid-19 cases is being orchestrated by the Democratic Party ahead of the election. An obituary for a late NBA player that described him as “useless.”
Uh Oh , Shut it down, it is computing the truth by accident!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.