A Journalist's Guide To AI

What happens when we start relying on AI a little too much?

In this episode of A Journalist’s Guide to AI, I talk with Max Spero, co-founder of Pangram Labs, about AI verification—and the deeper questions behind it. Not just can we detect AI-generated text, but why it matters for how we learn, communicate, and trust one another.

Max describes AI as “a fairly new paradigm,” and one of the risks he keeps coming back to is subtle yet serious: when we overuse AI, we may not learn as effectively as we think.

There are millions of AI use cases and no shortage of people building new tools. But Max says the reason he started Pangram is a bigger concern about the future of communication itself.

Some people imagine a future where AI agents mostly talk to other AI agents. “To me,” Max says, “that’s a grim future.”

We talk about why many AI detection tools fail, how false positives can cause real harm in newsrooms and classrooms, and why verification should support accountability—not punishment.

This conversation is for journalists, educators, and anyone trying to think clearly about what it means to keep humans, learning, and trust at the center of an AI-driven world.

Learn more

Max Spero: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxspero

Pangram Labs: https://pangramlabs.com

Pangram AI Detection Tool: https://pangramlabs.com/product




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In this episode of "A Journalist's Guide To AI," host Yumi Wilson sits down with podcast producer and founder of Saspod, Bogdan Bratis. They dive into Bogdan Bratis's unique journey from his early music career to building Saspod, a premier podcast production company based in the UK. The discussion covers valuable tips for aspiring podcasters, including the importance of podcast SEO, show naming strategies, and investing in sound quality. The conversation also explores the growing influence of AI in media—how tools like ChatGPT and audio enhancers are shaping the podcasting landscape, the risks of AI-generated misinformation, and practical ways to manage your online reputation in the age of AI. Both Bogdan Bratis and Yumi Wilson reflect on the importance of authenticity, quality content, and the challenges and excitement of podcasting in today’s rapidly evolving digital world.

(00:30) Introduction & Background - Bogdan Bratis
(02:50) Transition from Music to Podcast Production
(06:53) The Importance of Curiosity and Self-driven Learning
(08:26) Podcast Discovery, SEO & Naming Tips
(13:15) AI Tools for Podcasting & Measuring Digital Presence (16:19) Podcasting vs Traditional Media: Trends & Growth
(23:23) Keys to Podcast Success & Avoiding “Podfade”
(25:58) The Critical Role of Audio Quality
(40:47) AI in Editing: Tools and Pitfalls
(49:33) Deepfakes, Audio Cloning, and the Risks Ahead
(00:17) Controlling Your Personal Brand Online (ChatGPT, LinkedIn, Wikipedia)
(55:18) The Future of AI, Media, and Podcasting
(58:22) Practical Tips: Prompting AI and Maintaining Human Voice Follow Bogdan Bratis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bratis/
Website: https://saspod.com/podcast-production





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In this episode of "A Journalist's Guide To AI," host Yumi Wilson interviews Dr. Bahareh Heravi, an associate professor and AI expert focused on responsible AI use in journalism. Dr. Heravi shares her journey from a computer science background to merging technology with journalism, inspired largely by the challenges of news detection during Iran’s Green Revolution. The conversation covers the evolving role of AI and computational tools in newsrooms, noting how initial skepticism is slowly being replaced by experimentation, especially following the arrival of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Dr. Heravi discusses the diversity of attitudes among journalists; some are eager to adapt to AI, while others resist, fearing a loss of professional identity or journalistic integrity. The episode explores how AI tools are democratizing writing, supporting those who face language barriers, and enabling greater collaboration between technical and editorial roles. Yumi and Bahareh also address practical concerns about privacy, data protection, and the importance of clear organizational guidelines for AI use. Dr. Heravi emphasizes that ongoing education, responsible experimentation, and peer support are key as journalists navigate this new landscape, ultimately highlighting how AI can enhance both reporting and writing while safeguarding trust and ethical standards in media.

(00:00) AI Guidelines, Journalist Uncertainty, and Risk Aversion

(01:16) Introduction of Dr. Bahareh Heravi

(02:02) Heravi’s Personal Journey into AI & Journalism

(04:35) Early Newsroom Experience and Initial Tech Integration

(07:18) Evolution of Technology, Social Media, and AI Adoption

(10:57) What is NLP? Distinguishing Terms

(12:07) Journalists’ Attitudes Toward GenAI Tools

(15:49) The Writer’s Identity Debate & AI’s Influence

(17:54) Language Barriers and AI as an Equalizer

(22:03) Data & Computational Skills in Journalism

(26:57) Practical Advice on Tools for Journalists

(28:48) Privacy Concerns with AI Tools and Data Storage

(32:14) Everyday Privacy, Data Collection, and Personalization

(36:43) Personal vs. Source Data: Journalistic Ethics

(38:44) Consent, Transcription, and Organizational Policy

(41:18) Corporate AI Solutions and Internal Protections

(43:03) AI Training, Literacy, and Policy Development in Newsrooms

(46:29) Moving From Theory to Practical Guidance

(47:10) Closing Remarks & Takeaways

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In this episode of "A Journalist’s Guide to AI," host Yumi Wilson dives into the evolution of artificial intelligence and what the future could look like as we move toward Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). Yumi breaks down the three main stages of AI: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), which powers today’s AI tools like ChatGPT and is excellent at specific tasks; Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), theorized to match human flexibility and cross-domain reasoning but not yet achieved; and finally, ASI, a level where intelligence surpasses human capabilities in every way.

Yumi explains the technologies and advances needed to reach AGI and ASI, like multisensory AI, advanced neural networks, neuromorphic computing, and evolutionary algorithms. She discusses both the potential benefits, such as problem-solving, creativity enhancement, and reduced bias, and serious risks, including loss of control, economic disruption, and existential threats.

Throughout the episode, Yumi keeps journalism and media impact front and center, pondering what fully autonomous newsrooms and predictive journalism might mean for the profession. She stresses the importance of human responsibility, ethics, and staying informed as AI develops. Yumi encourages listeners to get involved, ask questions, and consider both the promise and perils of the AI-powered future.

(00:57) - What is Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)?
(03:57) - Shoutout to SaaSpod (Podcast Production Partner)
(05:08) - Transition from ANI to AGI and ASI
(05:54) - What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?
(08:05) - What is Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)?
(11:43) - How Could We Get to ASI?
(19:00) - Benefits and Risks of ASI
(23:02) - Ethical Dilemmas and Considerations
(24:53) - Futurist Predictions (Ray Kurzweil & Others)
(27:09) - Current Developments & Global Competition in AI
(29:02) - Implications for Journalism & Media
(30:49) - Who Will Control ASI? Accessibility and Risks
(31:17) - Final Thoughts and Call to Engagement




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In this episode of A Journalist’s Guide to AI we have Esther Paniagua an award winning independent journalist and author specialised in science, technology and cybersecurity.
Esther has received numerous accolades for her work, including multiple journalism awards.

She has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain and named one of Forbes’ Top 100 Most Creative People in Business. She also teaches “AI Journalism” at various universities.

Esther shares her journey from early tech adoption to becoming an expert in AI and journalism, discussing how AI is rapidly transforming the media landscape. They delve into the challenges faced by small newsrooms in adopting AI, the growing dominance of synthetic and AI-generated content (with a stark prediction that 90% of online content could be AI-generated by 2026), and the ongoing shifts in business models as platforms like Google and generative AI tools impact media revenue.

Esther emphasizes the importance of regulation, sustainable funding, and responsible technology development to preserve quality journalism in the face of these changes. She also highlights environmental concerns related to data centers and AI’s carbon footprint, advocating for informed consumer choices and public protest as forms of accountability. Towards the end of the episode, Yumi and Esther discuss practical tips for choosing more privacy-conscious and eco-friendly digital tools.

Esther also noted that the actual estimation of how much money Google owes to US publishers annually for use of their content on its platform is US$10–12 billion. Researchers also estimate (using a conservative assumption) that Facebook owes US$1.9 billion to publishers annually.

Source: IPD Columbia

00:00 - Funding Challenges for Small Newsrooms & Rise of AI Content

00:53 - Introducing Esther Paniagua

01:48 - Esther’s Journey into Journalism & Technology

04:10 - Specializing in Science and Technology Journalism

05:19 - Reporting on AI: Early Days and IBM Watson

07:07 - First AI Applications in Journalism

08:22 - Did We See AI’s Influence on Journalism Coming?

09:56 - How Google Changed the Media Landscape

12:01 - How Search and AI Are Shaping News Consumption

13:25 - AI Platforms Paying for News Content: Worth It?

14:57 - Why Pay for News Anymore? Is It Inevitable?

15:56 - The Role of Regulation in AI & Journalism

19:39 - Saving Journalism: Funding and the Need for Quality News

22:29 - Where Does the Money Come From? The Broken Business Model

27:15 - Covering Technology’s Social & Environmental Impact

32:39 - The Environmental Impact of AI: Energy and Water Use

35:35 - Are There Greener AI Solutions? Deep SEQ Example

40:16 - Regulation: The US vs. EU Approach to AI Oversight

42:28 - What If There’s No AI Regulation?

43:38 - Consumer Power: What You Can Do

46:04 - Practical Tips: Privacy-Friendly Tech Alternatives

51:25 - Social Media, Network Effects, and Consumer Choice

52:06 - Where to Follow Esther’s Work

54:03 - Wrap-Up, Final Thoughts, and Thank You

Follow Esther:
https://estherpaniagua.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherpaniagua/
https://www.instagram.com/e_paniagua

Esther's book: https://estherpaniagua.com/en/books/



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